MacLeod hopes win over England results in more games for Scotland

Calum MacLeod, who fired Scotland to a nervy six-run win over England in the one-off ODI, believes the victory does not soothe the pain of missing out on a 2019 World Cup berth. MacLeod scored a 94-ball 140 to help Scotland post 371 for 5 before England fell just short despite a whirlwind ton from Jonny Bairstow.

Scotland came close to sealing a place in the 2019 World Cup earlier in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe before rain and poor umpiring cost them the game against Windies. With the mega tournament pruned to 10 teams, only Afghanistan and Windies will join the top eight ODI sides in England next year.

"It's certainly one of the best games of cricket I've been involved in," MacLeod told BBC Sport. "To have the No.1 team in the world here, and the energy from the crowd, to set a total like that ... what a game.

"It does not take away what happened in the World Cup qualifiers and everyone's feelings about the 10-team tournament. But this was a special day. It is up to us now to build on it.

"We want more games. That is the bigger shop window rather than the personal side. This should be a catalyst for more games. Anyone here or watching could see the energy from the crowd and what passion there is for cricket up here."

Grant Bradburn, the Scotland coach, too felt the win should send a message to the International Cricket Council. "Obviously yesterday was another message. I don't think it would be any surprise for cricket folk around the world to know that we competed [with England]," he pointed out. "But to compete and win sends a fantastic message to the world governing body that there are not just 10 teams who are well capable of playing at a World Cup. There are three or four of our fellow associate nations that need to be there as well.

"Obviously 2019 has been decided but we hope common sense prevails and that decision for 10 teams is reviewed for 2023. It has to be reviewed now. The idea of the governing body is to grow the game and to shrink the World Cup is no way to grow the game."

Following the win over England, both MacLeod and coach Bradburn have lapped up offers from Derbyshire for the upcoming T20 Blast.

Having prevailed over England, Scotland now set their sights on Pakistan against who they play two T20Is on June 12 and 13.