Scotland shock defeat lackluster Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka suffered a shocking 7-wicket defeat at the hands of Scotland in a tour game played at Kent County Cricket Grounds in Beckenham on Sunday.

Scotland opening pair, Kyle Coetzer and Matthew Cross slammed stunning centuries as they chased down Sri Lanka’s score of 287 with 7 overs to spare.

Even though this was not an ICC-recognized international match, this is Scotland’s first ever victory over Sri Lanka. The defeat will definitely hamper Sri Lanka’s preparations for the next month’s ICC Champions Trophy.

Coetzer was caught at covers off Thisara Perea after a blistering 84-ball 118. The right-hander slammed 15 fours and 4 sixes as the two openers put on a match-winning 201 stand to set the tone for the Scots. One-drop batsman Calum MacLoed was caught at first-slip for 1 when Angelo Mathews took a one-handed blinder off Lakshan Sandakan.

Richie Berrington was the third and final wicket in the Scotland innings as he was undone by Angelo Mathews but it was little too late for the Lankans. Wicket-keeper batsman Cross remained unbeaten and made sure Scotland reaches the target by scoring the winning run off a boundary, one of his 8 fours in his magnificent 106 which came in 123 balls.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Sri Lanka openers, Upul Tharanga and Kusal Janith Perera added 35 runs before the former was dismissed for 20 by seamer Alasdair Evans. Vice-captain Tharanga’s brief knock had 4 elegant fours.

One-drop batsman Kusal Mendis was caught behind for just 1 run as debutant seamer Stuart Whittingham got his first scalp for Scotland. Perera was then joined by Chandimal with the score on 38 for 2. Perera and Chandimal added 77 for the 3^rd wicket before the left-handed stroke-maker was dismissed by captain Con De Lange. He struck 8 fours during his 59-ball 57.

Sri Lanka Captain Angelo Mathews in his comeback game from injury made an unimpressive 15 off 22 before being dismissed by right-arm medium fast bowler Chris Sole ending a 50-run stand with Chandimal for the 4^th wicket.

Chandimal maintained a strike rate of 75.24 for his 105-ball 79 which had 8 fours and 1 six to anchor the Lankan innings but was caught behind by wicket-keeper Matthew Cross off Whittingham when the score was 192.

Kapugedara, who is in the Sri Lanka ODI team after a long hiatus carried his SLC Super Provincial form into this game as he bludgeoned 71 off just 50 balls with 4 sixes and 6 fours to help Sri Lanka post 287. Kapugedara received excellent support from Asela Gunarathne who made 27 as they constructed an 82-run stand for the 6^th wicket.

Sri Lanka was set for a score of 300+ but the Scots came back strongly as they picked up the final five Lankan wickets inside 13 runs. Right-arm seamers, Whittingham and Evans picked up three wickets apiece for Scotland.

The second tour game will be played on 23^rd Tuesday at the same venue.

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