5 biggest upsets by Associate nations in ODIs

The 10th of June in 2018 will forever be entrenched in Scottish sporting history. After all, it's not often that they can boast of victory against their southern neighbours. In a high-scoring encounter at the Grange Cricket Club on Sunday, Scotland registered a stirring six-run win against the top-ranked England team.

More pertinently, their thrilling triumph has come at a time when the International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing major scrutiny over their contentious decision to convert the 2019 World Cup into a ten-team event. While untimely rain and the governing body's shortsightedness may have denied them a place in the premier 50-over tournament, Scotland showed commendable fortitude to vanquish a prominent Full Member.

The landmark tussle in Edinburgh was one of the several instances of giant-killing acts from the Associate nations. In reverse chronological order, here are five of the biggest upsets in ODI history. Significance of the result as well as relative strength of the two teams have been accorded more value whilst enumerating those extraordinary matches.

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#5 Scotland vs England (2018)

On what was a benign surface designed to facilitate shot-making, England won the toss and surprisingly chose to bowl first. With the shorter boundaries further aggravating the bowlers' woes, Scotland's openers took the visiting seamers to the cleaners.

Coming in at 103/1, Calum MacLeod consolidated his team's position by punishing even the slightest errors in length. The right-hander's unbeaten 140 enabled the hosts to set a daunting target for their power-packed opponents. The sheer audacity with which he employed the sweep shot never allowed Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali to settle into their spells.

England began their pursuit of 372 on the back of Jonny Bairstow's remorseless hitting. Even as the fearless Yorkshireman tore the Scottish seamers to shreds, the rest of the top-order rallied around. However, the batting lineup's soft underbelly resulted in a catastrophic middle-order collapse. Despite the end overs exploits of Moeen and Liam Plunkett, Scotland held their nerve to complete an indelible triumph.

Brief Scores: Scotland - 371/5 (Calum MacLeod 140*, Kyle Coetzer 58, George Munsey 55); England - 365 from 48.5 overs ( Jonny Bairstow 105, Mark Watt 3/55, Alasdair Evans 2/50)

Result: Scotland won by 6 runs

#4 Ireland vs Pakistan (2007)

A plucky Ireland outfit sent Pakistan crashing out of the 2007 World Cup

Since becoming an Associate member in 1993, Ireland got a taste of the hard grind as a disappointing seventh-placed finish followed by a play-off loss to Scotland in the ensuing editions of the ICC Trophy halted their World Cup aspirations.

A bunch of resolute cricketers, sharpened by County experience, helped Ireland rise through the ranks in the early to mid 2000s. A non-partisan format increased their chances of making a mark in the 2007 World Cup. They followed a nerve-wracking tie against Zimbabwe with an epoch-making triumph against Pakistan in Jamaica.

On a curiously green-tinged track at the Sabina Park, Ireland won a handy toss and used the conditions to roll over Pakistan for just 132. Boyd Rankin and Andre Botha found the perfect lengths to trigger a crucial collapse. Niall O'Brien anchored the challenging run-chase with a remarkable knock. Captain Trent Johnston's powerful heave sealed victory. Fittingly, Irish cricket's surge had arrived on St Patrick's Day.

Brief Scores: Pakistan - 132 from 45.4 overs (Kamran Akmal 27, Boyd Rankin 3/32, Andre Botha 2/5, Kyle McCallan 2/12); Ireland - 133/7 (Niall O'Brien 72, Mohammad Sami 3/29)

Result: Ireland won by 3 wickets with 32 balls remaining (D/L)

#3 Kenya vs Sri Lanka (2003)

Kenya surprised everyone by reaching the semifinals of the 2003 World Cup

Upon parting ways with the East African team, Kenya gained Associate Status in 1981. Fifteen years later, they qualified for their maiden World Cup. A resounding victory against West Indies made the ICC take notice and award ODI status to the emerging side. Aside from a couple of wins against an insipid Indian outfit, they largely struggled to keep pace with the evolving 50-over format during the latter part of the 1990s.

Extra Cover: Kenya's 2003 World Cup semi-final team - Where are they now?

Co-hosting the 2003 World Cup with South Africa and Zimbabwe, Kenya reached their seminal moment by defying all odds. They overcame the much more fancied Sri Lankan side with a spirited performance at Nairobi. Riding on wicket-keeper Kennedy Otieno's steadfast half-century, they put on a respectable total.

With the likes of Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in their ranks, Sri Lanka were expected to cruise. But Collins Obuya intervened by delivering one of the most memorable spells in World Cup history. The leg-spinner's astonishing five-wicket haul sent the Asian giants plummeting to a 53-run defeat. Kenya's fairy-tale continued till the semifinals wherein they were outclassed by Sourav Ganguly's formidable Indian team.

Brief Scores: Kenya - 210/9 (Kennedy Otieno 60, Muttiah Muralitharan 4/28, Chaminda Vaas 3/41); Sri Lanka - 157 from 45 overs (Aravinda de Silva 41, Collins Obuya 5/24, Steve Tikolo 2/13)

Result: Kenya won by 53 runs

#2 Kenya vs West Indies (1996)

Kenya vanquished a shell-shocked West Indies lineup during the 1996 World Cup

When a motley crew from Kenya took on West Indies in the 1996 edition of the World Cup, the sparse Pune crowd could be forgiven for envisioning a comfortable victory for the two-time champions. However, what transpired was the least expected result in the fledgling history of the flagship ODI tournament.

On a sluggish surface, Kenya managed to crawl to a middling total of 166. Steve Tikolo's 50-ball 29 was the top score in a rather painstaking batting effort. West Indies' response was bereft of logic. Without accounting for the slow nature of the pitch, the Caribbean stars played careless shots and perished cheaply.

While off-spinner Maurice Odumbe sliced open the middle-order, Rajab Ali's medium pace accounted for batsmen of the calibre of Brian Lara and Richie Richardson. Only two batsmen reached double figures as West Indies collapsed in an embarrassing manner.

Brief Scores: Kenya - 166 from 49.3 overs (Steve Tikolo 29, Roger Harper 3/15, Courtney Walsh 3/46); West Indies - 93 from 35.2 overs (Shivnarine Chanderpaul 19, Maurice Odumbe 3/15, Rajab Ali 3/17)

Result: Kenya won by 73 runs

#1 Zimbabwe vs Australia (1983)

Duncan Fletcher's all-round heroics propelled Zimbabwe to victory on ODI debut

Zimbabwe was elected as a Full Member on July 1992 and became the ninth Test playing country. The African nation's formative years began in 1981 when they gained Associate status from the ICC. After clinching the 1982 ICC Trophy, they earned the right to participate in the 1983 World Cup.

Playing in their first ever ODI, Zimbabwe produced a performance for the ages by slaying a strong Australian team at Trent Bridge. Duncan Fletcher, who would later go on to coach England and India, led from the front with a splendid all-round effort. The skipper's gritty 84-ball 69 carried the side to a competitive total.

Chasing 240 from 60 overs, Kepler Wessels began to set the platform from the top order. However, Fletcher derailed their plans with back to back wickets. Wicket-keeper batsman Rod Marsh's attacking half-century could not prevent Australia from slipping to an ignominious defeat.

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe - 239/6 from 60 overs (Duncan Fletcher 69*, Iain Butchart 34*, Graham Yallop 2/28, Dennis Lillee 2/47); Australia - 226/7 from 60 overs (Kepler Wessels 76, Rod Marsh 50*, Duncan Fletcher 4/42)

Result: Zimbabwe won by 13 runs