Cricket World Cup: Sri Lanka too strong for Scots

Lasith Malinga (C) takes the plaudits after taking the wicket of Scotland batsman Kyle Coetzer. Picture: Getty

The Sri Lanka number three followed up hundreds against Bangladesh, Australia and England with his highest score of the tournament so far, an innings of 124 from 95 balls, as Sri Lanka posted 363 for nine.

In reply, Scotland were a long way short, all out for 215 as they lost by 148 runs.

Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan put on 195 runs for Sri Lanka’s second wicket in the match-defining partnership.

Josh Davey of Scotland celebrates with Alasdair Evans of Scotland after taking the wicket of Kumar Sangakkara. Picture: Getty

Opener Dilshan, who was the first to reach three figures after both had briefly been 99 not out, fell for 104 as the pair were finally separated.

Sangakkara accelerated as Scotland struggled to contain him. He cleared the ropes four times in his innings and added 13 fours, reaching his ton with a prod through third man. He eventually fell edging Josh Davey to wicketkeeper Matthew Cross. Davey had also removed Dilshan.

Sri Lanka were safely through to the quarter-finals before the contest began, and Sangakkara said: “It was a pretty good game, it was important we finished the group strong. The boys were up for a fight, and although the Scots fought hard we were better on the day.”

Reflecting on his innings and centuries record, the 37-year-old left-handed batsman added on Sky Sports World Cup: “Sometimes things just fall into place, everything clicks. It’s difficult to pinpoint it.

Richie Berrington (L) and Freddie Coleman look at the scoreboard during play. Picture: Getty

“Maybe it’s because I’m making a lot of better decisions, the right decisions at the right time, taking risks at the right time, being more calculated, being a bit more positive.

“I don’t know what that one thing is, but whatever it is it’s working for me at the moment and I’d like to hold on to that for as long as I can.”

Angelo Mathews plundered 51 from 21 balls down the innings, including sixes from each of the four deliveries he faced immediately before being dismissed when going for another maximum - caught just inside the ropes by Freddie Coleman off the final ball of Matt Machan’s costly fourth and final over.

With the required run rate above seven per over, Scotland’s prospects were poor before they began their reply, and when opener Kyle Coetzer fell to the second ball of the innings the size of their task looked overwhelming. He chipped back a return catch that Lasith Malinga gratefully accepted.

When Calum MacLeod and Machan soon followed, Scotland’s mission was destined for failure.

Damage limitation appeared their realistic objective, although a fourth-wicket stand of 118 between Preston Mommsen and Coleman showed impressive resilience, and while it lasted the partnership even offered faint hope.

Yet captain Mommsen’s 60 and a fine 70 from Coleman proved the only significant resistance.

Their stand ended when Mommsen fell to Thisara Perera, caught at short cover by Lahiru Thirimanne. Coleman’s innings ended as he went for a big swipe at Nuwan Kulasekara but could not get hold of the shot as he hoped, and Perera held on safely as the ball dropped from the sky.

Richie Berrington clubbed a pair of sixes but was jostled out for 29, Kulasekara almost putting the ball down but just about grasping a routine chance off Dushmantha Chameera.

The lower-order Scottish batsmen found the occasion beyond them, barely contributing.

Haq sent home for ‘code of conduct’ breach

Scotland bowler Majid Haq has been sent home from the World Cup after breaching the team’s internal code of conduct, Cricket Scotland have announced.

No further explanation was given but Haq, who is Scotland’s all-time leading wicket-taker, posted a race-related tweet after he was not selected for the 148-run defeat to Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

Haq tweeted: “Always tougher when you’re in the minority! #colour #race”, before later deleting the post.

A Cricket Scotland statement read: “Following a breach of Cricket Scotland’s internal code of conduct, international team member, Majid Haq, is travelling home from the ICC World Cup.

“No further statement will be issued until internal processes have been completed in due course.”

Haq, who was born in Scotland but is of Pakistani descent, has played more than 200 times for Scotland and taken 258 wickets.

The 32-year-old has, however, only managed three wickets in four matches at the World Cup and was replaced against Sri Lanka by fellow off-spinner Michael Leask.

Scotland have lost all five of their group matches so far, leaving the team one more chance to register a win when they face Australia in Hobart on Saturday.