Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington shared a Scottish ODI record partnership of 208 to lead their side to a famous 7 wicket win over Afghanistan in their WCQ opener.

Chasing what looked a tough target of 255, the Scots were reeling early as openers Kyle Coetzer and Matty Cross fell to teenage spin wizard Mujeeb Zadran.

With Rashid Khan - the world's number one ranked bowler in both T20 and ODI cricket - waiting in the wings, it looked as if it would be a familiar take of woe for a Scotland side who have beaten Afghanistan only once in their last 14 meetings across all formats.

However on a day when Rashid became the youngest ODI captain at just 19 years, his seemingly ever upward trajectory came crashing down, swept away by the powerful blade of Calum MacLeod.

The 29 year-old took the fight to an Afghan side which became ever more rattled as the boundary count increased.

Time after time the ball found the middle of MacLeod's bat and the field was pierced with regularity as he powered along with a strike-rate of over 100.

He found the perfect foil in Berrington, and the old firm produced the goods yet again to serenely steer their team towards victory.

The pair added 208 - a Scottish ODI record beating Fraser Watts and Gavin Hamilton's 203 in 2009 - before Berrington was trapped lbw by Rashid for 67 from 95 balls. It was to be his sole success in a 9-over spell which cost 68 - but the game was good as over.

MacLeod finished unbeaten on 157 from 146 balls - his 6th ODI hundred and only bettered by his 175 against Canada in the 2014 qualifying tournament.

His innings contained no fewer than 23 fours and one towering six.

While MacLeod will rightly take most of the plaudits, the part in the success of the Scottish attack shouldn't be under-estimated.

Berrington took three early wickets, while Brad Wheal (3-36) and Safyaan Sharif (2-46) were all superb.

Afghanistan had rallied with a 5th wicket stand of 149 between Mohammed Nabi (92) and Najibullah Zadran (67) but having set the base for a total approaching 300, the wheels came off in the crucial last phase.

That late burst by Scotland was to prove crucial in the final analysis.

This match was Scotland's 100th ODI fixture and I'm certain Flower of Scotland has rarely been belted out with such enthusiasm after a win.

There are more pressure games ahead over the next three weeks, but this is a fine start by Grant Bradburn's side.