CRICKET ace Richie Berrington says he is still on cloud nine after helping the national team reach next year’s World Cup.

The Greenock Cricket Club star was in the side that won the World Cup qualifying trophy in New Zealand last month to secure Scotland’s place at the sport’s showpiece event in 2015.

It will be only the country’s third appearance at the tournament and their first since 2007.

Berrington, 26, scored a superb 63 in Scotland’s final match against United Arab Emirates as the national side won by 41 runs to secure the winners’ trophy. He says it’s a huge achievement for the country and the sport and is delighted to have been part of the journey.

Berrington told the Tele: “I’m absolutely delighted — it’s not quite sunk in yet.

“For us it was massive.

“It’s been a while since a Scotland team got to the World Cup — it’s huge.

“The whole thing was a great experience.” Berrington was part of the team which won all but one of their qualifying tournament matches before a showdown final match with UAE to decide the winner.

Despite the pressure of the nation on their shoulders, the Glenparker says he and his team mates stayed calm throughout and just went out and did their job.

He said: “We knew with the World Cup riding on it it would be massive.

“From the outset it was tense and the pressure was on us. All the teams involved were strong.

“But the character of the team out there was excellent and the way everybody responded was superb.

“For any cricketer the dream is to play at the World Cup and we have given ourselves the opportunity to be there.” Since then Berrington and his team-mates have given the whole country a boost and heightened the profile of the sport in Scotland.

And he says the support from everyone — especially his friends and family — has been top class.

He said: “The support in general has been fantastic since we qualified.

“My parents have supported me all along the way — they’ve always been there.

“Something like this is brilliant for them just to be part of it and enjoy it and I’m sure they will be out there next year at some stage.” Now Berrington is enjoying some well deserved time off before pre-season starts at Glenpark.