23 May 2017 11:01 pm Views - 4065
Kusal Mendis (file picture) hits unbeaten 74
mirrorcricket: An unbeaten 114 runs for the second-wicket between Kusal Mendis and Upul Tharanga set up a crushing nine-wicket win for Sri Lanka over Scotland in their second tour match played at the Kent County Cricket Grounds in England yesterday.
Sri Lanka who suffered an embarrassing seven-wicket defeat on Sundayagainst the same opponent, raced to their target in the penultimate ball of the 23rd over.
This was a complete performance by the Lankans who will open their Champions Trophy campaign against South Africa one of the tournament favourites on June 3.
Mendis remained unbeaten on 74 with ten boundaries and two sixes during his match-winning partnership with Tharanga who scored an unbeaten 53 off 63 balls.
Upul Tharanga(file picture)
The pair batted with complete composure and authority taking the Scottish bowlers to the sword.
Opener Niroshan Dickwella made 29 as he and Tharanga put on 56 for the opening wicket.
Earlier, batting first Scotland were bowled out for 166 by a much improved Sri Lankan bowling unit led by Chinaman Lakshan Sandakan.
Sandakan who is expected play a huge role in Sri Lanka’s Champions Trophy campaign finished with figures of four for 39 runs while Nuwan Kulasekera who was rested for Sunday’s opener shared two wickets apiece with spinner Seekkuge Prasanna.
Craig Wallace was Scotland’s top scorer with 46.
Scotland: 166 in 42.1 overs (M. Cross 27, C. Wallace 46, A. Evans 22,N. Kulasekara 2/23, S. Prasanna 2/28, L. Sandakan 4/39)
Sri Lanka: 170/1 in 22.5 overs (N. Dickwella 57, U. Tharanga 53 m.o,K. Mendis 74 n.o).