Scotland off to a flier as Greaves delivers timely counter-attack

All-rounder rescues innings to set up defeat of Bangladesh Beating No 6 T20 team is one of nation’s greatest feats

Earlier this year, Chris Greaves was delivering parcels for Amazon to help pay the bills. Now, he can claim a starring role in one of the finest days in Scottish cricket history, excelling with bat and ball as Scotland toppled Bangladesh by six runs on the opening day of the Twenty20 World Cup in Muscat.

Bangladesh, the world No6 T20 side, and fresh from thrashing Australia 4-1, could not be accused of complacency. But Scotland, indebted to their batting depth and focus on boundary hitting, recovered from 53 for six to reach 140, and then defended the runs with zest.

It took Scotland 21 matches to finally record their first victory in an International Cricket Council event, which they managed against Hong Kong in 2016. They needed only one more to clinch their second, a victory that could be altogether more momentous, putting them in sight of a Super 12 berth.

In an age when cricket is in thrall to data that now allows for microscopic analysis of all-comers, Greaves is a throwback: a cricketer about whom there is scarcely a scintilla of data or video footage. The 31-year-old was playing just the second international game of a career that began in South Africa before he moved nine years ago.

Arriving at the crease at No7, he set about reviving Scotland. Using a mixture of improvisation – several reverse sweeps, and an uppercut over third man – and raw power, Greaves’s 28-ball 45, sharing a halfcentury stand with Mark Watt, hauled Scotland up to 140. That still felt a touch short of par, but Greaves’s leg-spin stunted Bangladesh when, at 65 for two off 11 overs, they appeared well on track. Naturally, there was some fortune to his two for 19 – his first ball was a long hop, which Shakib Al Hasan slammed out to the leg side, where Calum Macleod took a fine catch.

“It was my day, I think,” Greaves said. “With the score on the board, you’ve got something to bowl at.”

While Greaves is not among Scotland’s centrally contracted players, captain Kyle Coetzer and coach Shane Burger had elevated him into the T20 squad out of a belief in the value of leg-spin. Still, they could scarcely have imagined such an extraordinary World Cup debut.

“There’s so many words,” Greaves said. “Just really enjoying it and taking one day at a time. Hopefully many more days like this to come.”

Greaves’s leg-spin complemented the rest of an impressive bowling attack. New-ball pair Brad Wheal and Josh Davey showed that they can transfer their skills to the Middle East, with Wheal outstanding in snaring three for 24. Coetzer managed his options creatively, unusually entrusting left-arm spinner Watt to deliver the 18th over; it yielded just five runs to put the match beyond Bangladesh.

Scotland’s joy will be all the greater for the knowledge that they defeated Bangladesh with far from a perfect performance; their toporder batting, traditionally their strength, subsided against Bangladesh’s high-class spin attack.

Bangladesh were not complacent to the Scottish challenge, as the sight of a deep point for George Munsey – to counter his reverse sweep – attested. But in Greaves, Scotland had one player who Bangladesh could not prepare for.

Opening salvo: Chris Greaves attacks during his 28-ball 45 for Scotland; Oman (below left) celebrate taking a Papua New Guinea wicket; the Oman royal cavalry (below right) hold flags of the competing nations at the opening ceremony