Coetzer, Cross combine to shock Sri Lanka

Scotland claimed a rare victory over a Full Member as centuries from Kyle Coetzer and Matthew Cross led them home against Sri Lanka at Beckenham. Sri Lanka, who will play Scotland for a second time on Tuesday as part of their Champions Trophy preparations, were dismissed for 287 and their bowlers did not come close to defending the target as Scotland won with seven wickets and as many overs to spare.

A double-century stand from Coetzer and Cross laid the platform for Scotland. The openers put on 201 before Coetzer departed for 118 off 84 balls and although Calum McLeod and Richie Berrington fell as the target came into view, Cross and captain Con de Lange (19*) guided Scotland over the line.

"It was just one of those days, if it goes your way, you've just got to keep riding the wave, keep taking the attack to them and putting them on the back foot," Coetzer said. "So often in the past we would have maybe gone within our shell and not felt as if we were up to the task. But going out and trying to put them on the back foot showed we were. I'm really chuffed with the guys for getting an historic win."

Coetzer praised the Scotland bowling effort, after they kept Sri Lanka below 300 despite half-centuries from Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal and Chamara Kapugedera.

"It's been a great day," he said. "Turned up, the sun was shining - so that was the first win - and thankfully we played a good game of cricket. We restricted them in the field and kept them below 300, which was a really, really outstanding performance.

"They came out and played positively from the start and at one stage it looked like we were up against it. But steady wickets, when the game was getting a bit tight - we kept picking them up, which was crucial."

Sri Lanka had been well set after a third-wicket stand of 77 between opener Perera and Chandimal, who top-scored with 79 from No. 4. Kapugedera then picked up the tempo, hitting six fours and four sixes during a 50-ball 71, as he and Asela Gunaratne added 82, before Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 13 runs, Stuart Whittingham and Alasdair Evans each claiming three-fors to help swing the momentum back Scotland's way.