Scotland cricket stars Calum MacLeod and Safyaan Sharif have been awarded prestigious individual honours for their exploits last year.

MacLeod has been awarded ESPNcricinfo’s Associate Batting Performance of the Year for his brilliant 140 not out as Scotland secured the biggest win in their cricketing history with a thrilling six-run ODI defeat of England at the Grange in Edinburgh last June.

Sharif, meanwhile, claimed the Associate Bowling Performance of the Year in ESPNcricinfo’s awards as he took five for 33 in Scotland’s exhilirating tie with Zimbabwe in their final group game at the World Cup Qualifiers just under a year ago. Sharif tweeted of his achievement: “Absolutely delighted to have won the Associate bowling performance of the year 2018. Thanks to @ESPNcricinfo for awarding me this award.”

The accolades drew the attention of new Scotland head coach Shane Burger, who is set to officially begin his role next month. Burger tweeted both Sharif and MacLeod to say “congrats”.

The South African assumes his duties after Scotland beat Oman by 15 runs last week to triumph in their three-match one-day series 2-1 and ensure interim head coach Toby Bailey won his last match in charge.

Burger’s first games will be against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in May.