For world cup runner-ups, Sri Lanka, their match against home team Scotland will round off their trip to United Kingdom. After a not so good tour to England where they lost both test and ODI series, Sri Lanka’s match against Ireland was washed out due to rain.
Now against weaker opposition in Scotland, Sri Lanka would want certain things to be in shape before taking on Australia on home soil in a full-fledged tour. Most important thing on their agenda will be skipper Tilkerratne Dilshan hitting some form as dashing opener has struggled big time after coming back from that finger injury. He hardly scored any runs in the ODI series against England and would like to have some under his belt to have confidence in a build up to all important Aussie challenge.
Big guns in Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawerdena might be rested to pave a way for younger guns to see how they fare in international arena. More than the result which is expected heavily to be in visitor’s favour, it will some mini-goals that Sri Lanka would be addressing to. Kind of a bowling unit Scotland boasts off, another run fest is on cards at Edinburgh and Scotland will do well to compete against one of the top sides in the world. It will be mighty difficult for minnow side’s batsmen to handle slinga Lasith Malinga as they wouldn’t have faced someone of Malinga’s pace, variations and Yorkers in the nets or domestic cricket.
Not often Associate Nation like Scotland get to play a strong side like that of Sri Lanka. Not only the Wednesday’s fixture gives Scottish players an opportunity to give a good account of themselves against a top side, it offers them a good chance to learn from the likes of Malinga, Mahela and Sangakkara.
The player to watch out for will be K Coetzer who has been impressive with his strokeplay, of late. It will be interesting how he plays against pace of Malinga. What would hold the home side in a good stead is the fact they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Gaining experience should motivate them to come up with a good show against mighty Lankans.
Weather permitting, Sri Lankan batsmen should amass big runs against weaker Scottish bowling lineup, and, home side, will do well to show competitive and never say die attitude against big guns.
Scotland: Gordon Drummond Capt), Richie Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Josh Davey, Ryan Flannigan, Gordon Goudie, Majid Haq, Neil McCallum, Calum MacLeod, Gregor Maiden, Preston Mommsen, Safyaan Sharif, Fraser Watts
Sri Lanka: T Dilshan (capt), T Kandambi, K Sangakkara (wk), M Jayawardene, D Chandimal, J Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne, Thissara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suranga Lakmal, Damikka Prasad, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Angelo Mathews.
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