MacLeod leads Scotland to opening win

Scotland 256 for 3 (MacLeod 157*, Berrington 67) beat Afghanistan 255 (Nabi 92, Zadran 67, Wheal 3-36, Berrington 3-42) by seven wickets

Bulawayo: Calum MacLeod hit 157 not out as Scotland opened the World Cup Qualifier with a shock seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in Bulawayo on Sunday.

MacLeod and Richie Berrington, who scored 67, added 208 for the third wicket - a Scotland one-day record - as they chased 256 with 16 balls to spare.

Mohammad Nabi made 92 and Najibullah Zadran 67 in Afghanistan's 255 all out.

Two sides from the eight-team competition will qualify for the 2019 World Cup in England and Wales.

Former Durham and Warwickshire batsman MacLeod, 29, hit 23 fours and a six in his brilliant 146-ball innings, as he and Berrington rescued Scotland from 21-2.

Afghanistan, a Test-playing nation, are 10th in the International Cricket Council ODI rankings, while associate nation Scotland are 15th.

Scotland face Hong Kong in their next Group B game on Tuesday, before games against Nepal on Thursday and hosts Zimbabwe on 12 March.

Scotland played at the previous World Cup in 2015 and also participated in the 2007 and 1999 editions.

Scores	Upcoming	Results
Pakistan vs New Zealand - 5th T20I Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings - 42nd Match Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians - 43rd Match Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals - 44th Match 45th Match - Gujarat Titans v Royal Challengers Bangalore - April 28, 10:00 GMT 46th Match - Chennai Super Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad - April 28, 14:00 GMT 4th T20I - Pakistan v New Zealand at Lahore New Zealand won by 4 runs 41st Match - Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bangalore at Hyderabad Royal Challengers Bangalore won by 35 runs

Taylor into top 10, Rashid Khan Slipped [+]

Indian captain Kohli and Bumrah stay on top in batting and bowling ODI rankings.

Mujeeb, Shahzad complete Afghanistan title win [+]

Teenaged off-spinner returned 4/43 to stop Windies at 204 before opening batsman hit 93-ball 84 to complete seven-wicket victory.

Afghanistan qualify for 2019 World Cup [+]

Afghanistan pull of the great escape to make World Cup and to knocked out Ireland.

UAE knocked Zimbabwe out from 2019 CWC [+]

Afghanistan and Ireland now virtual semi-final on Friday.

West Indies through to 2019 World Cup [+]

The two-time champions sealed a berth in the 2019 World Cup when rain arrived with Scotland five runs short of the DLS par score.

Naib and Najibullah keeps Afghanistan alive [+]

Afghanistan keep their 2019 World Cup qualifications alive with a comfortable 5-wicket win over UAE.

WI inch closer to WC spot with narrow win [+]

Jason Holder, Marlon Samuels guide West Indies to victory against Zimbabwe.

Ireland beat Scots to keep hopes alive [+]

Ireland are still in with a chance of making the World Cup after defeating in-form Scotland by 25 runs in Harare.

PNG defeat Hong Kong to finish ninth in CWCQ [+]

PNG defeated Hong Kong by 58 runs in the 4000th ODI.

Netherlands finish seventh in Qualifiers [+]

Sompal Kami who was the star bowler fore Nepal was also the top scorer with the bat scoring 36 runs.