Sri Lanka cruise to win over Scots

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, March 5, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka cruised to a comfortable 172-run win over Scotland at the Three Ws Oval here on Monday in their opening World Cup warm-up match.









Mahela Jayawardene's team then move on to Trinidad for their first round Group B matches where they will take on India, Bangladesh and Bermuda while Scotland play in Group A at St Kitts with champions Australia, South Africa and the Netherlands. Sri Lanka chose to bat first and posted a daunting total of 294-7 off their 50 overs with veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya hitting 77.

He shared a first wicket stand of 117 with Upul Tharanga who made 70 which laid the foundation for the total.

Top scorer was Kumar Sangakkara who made 81.

The Scots never recovered from losing three quick wickets and were all out for 122 while never looking like they would threaten the Sri Lankans.

Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas, who claimed a rare hat-trick at the last World Cup in South Africa in 2003, did the damage removing openers Fraser Watts, who was lbw, while partner Majid Haq was bowled.

Fellow opening bowler Lasith Malinga removed Navdeep Poonia lbw for a second ball duck to leave the Scots 35-3.