Cricket: Scots have no answer to the Malinga phenomenon

Lasith Malinga produced a potent mixture of pace and guile that left even the most experienced of Scots floundering. Attempting to cope with his unique slingshot action was perfectly summed up by Kyle Coetzer.

Opener Coetzer, a key member of the side which had defeated Ireland the previous day, may be used to dealing with 90mph deliveries in his day job with Durham County, but he acknowledged Malinga as the main difference between the sides.

"That was interesting, There were a lot of things I learned," he admitted. "They had an exceptional bowler in Malinga.

"Their full line-up of bowlers is good but Malinga is different. That's something for us to think about next time. Malinga blew away the top (order] and made it hard. His speed is definitely up there but it is the position of the release point, the way it comes out of his hand that is so different. That might add a yard or two of pace.

"There was a lot of disappointment after the first ten overs because we knew how much damage he had done. I'm not saying we would have won but we would have given it a good go."

Former Scotland all-rounder Dougie Brown had warned in the Evening News on Tuesday of Malinga's abilities and his words were nothing if not prescient.

Some of Malinga's five victims, garnered for the loss of just 30 runs in a spell just two deliveries short of the allotted ten overs, appeared beaten all ends up as yorkers were interspersed with in-and-out swing, not to mention the heavily-disguised slower ball and bouncer.

As if that were not enough, Malinga smacked 32 in 15 balls - there were only 19 remaining when he got to the crease - as the Sri Lankan tail took their innings to 284-8 in the face of a disciplined home attack.

By comparison, Scotland scratched their way to 101 from a low point of 49-7, but skipper Gordon Drummond believes the experience was thoroughly worthwhile.

"It is about knowing we have now played against this guy and putting that in the bank for the next time we come across him.

"In particular, his slower ball is quite awkward to see, being round about 30mph slower. That is a good one to have in your repertoire and then there's the yorker which was just too good for us .?.?. he bowled four guys."

Scotland now return to Clydesdale Bank Pro40 series action against Northants on Sunday and Warwickshire on Monday, both games at Raeburn Place.

Drummond said: "We have played a team either second or third best in the world and now have a few days to re-group and we know what is coming because we have played these teams before this season."

Scotland won the toss and apart from Malinga's big hitting at the end never really let Sri Lanka dominate. Maybe if Drummond had held an awkward steepler running backwards given by Mahela Jayawardene when he had made 38 of his eventual 64, more pressure could have been applied early on. But, generally, Scotland treated a bumper crowd to an efficient display in which Preston Mommsen and Majid Haq each had two wickets and Drummond's economy was jolted by the late wag of the tail.

"The way we bowled and fielded is the positive we take out of this match," said Drummond.

When it came to replying, the Scots had no answer, apart from a defiant 34 from Majid Haq, while Josh Davey hung around for 17.

At least they have been given a reminder of just what they must try to aspire to but that is easier said that done against opponents who had reached the end of a three month tour of Britain that came on the back of a World Cup in which they achieved final status. Beaten, of course. But Drummond's Saltires were far from disgraced in pulling in a 2000 crowd on a picture-perfect arena which reflected huge credit on host club Grange and their groundsman, Lee Spendlove.