Inexperienced 26-year-old batting prodigy achieves impressive century in List A debut for Scotland.
# Cricketer Finlay McCreath Shines on List A Debut
A young Scottish star was born on April 24 against Zimbabwe A in their first unofficial ODI. Finlay McCreath, a newcomer to Scotland's professional cricket squad, scored a breathtaking century on his List A debut.
This exciting clash took place at the Harare Sports Club, with Scotland's captain, Matthew Cross, winning the toss and opting to send Zimbabwe A to bat first. Takudzwanashe Kaitano and Tadiwanashe Marumani kicked off the match with an impressive 89-run partnership for the opening wicket.
However, their progress was halted as Marumani was dismissed for 37, and the momentum shifted dramatically. Dion Myers followed suit with a score of 27, leaving Zimbabwe A struggling at 135. The slide continued, with Zimbabwe A managing only 184 runs by the end of their inning, thanks in part to strong bowling performances from Charlie Cassell (3-34) and Michael Leask (3-33).
Scotland's Chase Stumbles, But Recovers
In the quest to chase down the score, Scotland openers George Munsey and Christopher McBride forged a powerful 63-run partnership. The momentum shifted once again when three wickets fell in rapid succession, leaving Scotland at 90-3.
Skipper Cross joined McCreath at the crease, contributing a modest 16 runs to the critical fourth-wicket stand, which saw McCreath reach a half-century off 52 balls. Michael Leask was subsequently dismissed, and Scotland found themselves hanging by a thread at 166-5. However, McCreath and Mark Watt steadied the ship and took Scotland to the brink of victory.
McCreath's stellar debut performance culminated in a century in the 42nd over, off 109 balls. In a cruel twist, McCreath was dismissed off the very next ball, caught by Alex Falao off Roy Kaia. With effective contributions from Watt and Jack Jarvis, Scotland managed to overtake Zimbabwe A by four wickets, with 40 balls to spare.
Who is Finlay McCreath?
Prior to this historic match, McCreath had never played a single match with first-class, List A, or T20 status. But he's no stranger to Scottish domestic cricket, having represented the national U15, U17, and U19 sides.
In 2017, McCreath faced off against some of England's top cricketers, including Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Taylor, and Sophie Ecclestone, during a match against the England national team, as part of his time with Warwickshire's Elite Player Pathway. He shared the pitch with current England international, Jacob Bethell, during this encounter.
Remarkably, McCreath has also played for Scotland A since 2018 and four times for Gloucestershire's Second XI in 2019. One of his standout performances was an unbeaten 95 for Grange against Falkland, where he single-handedly lifted the team to 251-7 in 50 overs.
Image credit: X / @CricketScotland
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Enrichment Data:
Finlay McCreath is a right-handed Scottish cricketer born on October 16, 1998, and currently 26 years old (as of April 2025). With a notable career representing Scotland's national team at various levels, McCreath's professional performances have left an impression on cricket platforms such as ESPNcricinfo and NDTV Sports.
- Finlay McCreath, the Cricketer of the Year, chipped 109 runs off 109 balls in an unofficial ODI against Zimbabwe A, marking his List A debut for Scotland.
- Despite Scotland stumbling in their chase, with three wickets falling in quick succession, they managed to recover and win by four wickets against Zimbabwe A, thanks in part to McCreath's unforgettable century.
- Keep up with the latest cricket news by following our website, where you'll find extensive coverage on players like Finlay McCreath, match results, and historic performances, like his debut in the ODI against Zimbabwe A.
- Finlay McCreath's cricket career began early with his representation of the national U15, U17, and U19 sides before playing professional cricket and eventually making his List A debut.
