Scotland making history against Sri Lanka

SCOTLAND have made history by beating Sri Lanka at the Beckenham County Ground to register their first ever victory over a Full Member country.

Saltire openers Matthew Cross and Kyle Coetzer put on a stand of 201 to cause a headache for Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, as his decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired.

Coetzer’s 118 from 84 balls gave Scotland the ideal start to their run-chase after Sri Lanka posted 287 for their innings. Coetzer had no difficulty working the field with 84 of his runs being scored through boundaries – 15 fours, and four sixes.

Thisara Perera eventually broke the partnership by getting rid of Coetzer, and despite two more wickets falling, centurion Cross (106*) carried Scotland to victory with 43 balls to spare.

With Scotland’s score of 291-3, Coetzer declared: “It’s been a great day.

“I am pleased for the guys out there to get that historic win.

“Quite often in the past we would have gone into our shell and not felt that we were up to the task, but out there trying to put them on the back-foot most certainly showed we were up for the task.”

Two days later, Angelo Mathews and company returned to Beckenham seeking to take their shot at redemption in the second meeting between the two sides.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers proved the difference as Lakshan Sandakan claimed figures of 4-39 with his chinaman spin.

Assisted by Seekkuge Prasanna and Nuwan Kulasekara, who both claimed two wickets apiece, Scotland were bowled out for 166 from 42 overs.

Sri Lanka showed more assertion with their batting in the second match with Upul Tharanga and Kusal Mendis combining to make light work of their 167 target.

Mendis entered the fray following the dismissal of Niroshan Dickwella (29) and hit ten boundaries to bring up his half-century with less than 20 overs gone.

Tharanga (53*) managed the same feat as he and Mendis (74*) saw Sri Lanka home to win by nine wickets.