Scotland’s cricketers have pulled off the greatest victory in their history to beat England for the first time amid scenes of disbelief and jubilation at Edinburgh’s tiny Grange ground.

The world’s top-ranked ODI team, who play the first of five matches against Australia in London on Wednesday, were beaten by six runs in the 49th over after failing to pull off what would have been the second-highest run chase in ODI history.

Scotland’s Safyaan Sharif sparked a pitch invasion when he trapped Mark Wood lbw with an in-swinging yorker in the 49th over just when England looked like they might avoid an infamous defeat that ranks alongside their loss to Ireland at the 2011 World Cup.

Scottish fans were so hyped up, they invaded the pitch. Photo: Getty

England were all out for 365 after Scotland made 5-371, their highest total in a one-day international.

Scotland’s victory will send out a powerful message to the ICC, which voted to restrict the 2019 World Cup to 10 teams from the previous 14, which makes it far more difficult for second-tier sides to qualify.

Scotland’s innings included 45 fours and eight sixes and was anchored by Calum MacLeod who made an unbeaten 140.

“I hit it nicely,” MacLeod said. “It was a lovely feeling and nice to do it in a crowd this big. Anything above 350 is a big total.”

Scotland top order batsman Calum Macleod hit 140 not out. Photo: Getty

Kyle Coetzer (58) and Matthew Cross (48) had got the innings off to a strong start with an opening partnership of 103 and George Munsey weighed in with 55.

The visitors, playing their first one-day game of the season, were given a hurricane start by Jonny Bairstow who hit a brilliant 105 to become the first Englishman to post three successive ODI centuries.

But Jason Roy (34), Eoin Morgan (20) and Alex Hales (52) departed to careless shots while Joe Root (29) was needlessly run out. Moeen Ali tried to repair the damage with a 33-ball 46 but England had left themselves too much to do.

Spinner Mark Watt was Scotland’s best bowler with 3-55.

“The level of expectation has been high around the team for a while, it doesn’t get higher than being number one in the world,” Morgan said.

“I don’t think we were far away, we go to a ground now that we know really well in The Oval, and we’ll be up for the challenge.”

Alasdair Evans of Scotland takes the wicket of David Willy. Photo: Getty