Sri Lanka bowling star Malinga too hot for Scots

LONDON, July 13, 2011 (AFP) - Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga ensured the islanders tour of Britain ended on a winning note as he took five wickets in a 183-run one-day international rout of Scotland here on Wednesday.





Beaten in both Test and one-day series by England, the World Cup finalists proved too strong for a Scotland side who'd only the day before piled up 323 in a shock win over fellow non-Test team Ireland.

Sri Lanka made 284 for seven, featuring fifties from openers Mahela Jayawardene (64) and Dimuth Karunaratne (60).

They then saw Malinga, one of the most difficult bowlers in world cricket to face on account of his round-arm, 'slingshot', style take five for 30 as Scotland were shot out for 101 with Majid Haq's 34 double the next best score of any other home batsman.

Malinga, 27, who has retired from Test cricket, earlier made a rapid unbeaten 32 off 15 balls with two sixes but it was his bowling that did the damage.

"He is world class and unfortunately we came up against him at his best and didn't have an answer," said Scotland captain Gordon Drummond. "I think it's the uniqueness of how he delivers the ball.

We knew he was going to be difficult to face but knowing it and actually doing