Sri Lanka v Scotland: Back brutal Thirimanne to guide Lankans to victory

Richard O’Hagan
10 March 2015

Back Lahiru Thirimanne to make another big score in this game

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Sri Lanka have made it through to the next stage of this World Cup, but still need a win to be sure of a decent quarter-final draw. Scotland have only pride to play for but have troubled everyone who has met them in the tournament so far. Richard O'Hagan previews the action.

"Anything less than a win in this match will almost certainly mean that Sri Lanka have to play the winners of Pool B in the next round. If Angelo Mathews’ men were tempted to take it easy in this match then this should be reason enough for them not to."

Sri Lanka v Scotland
Wednesday, 03:30 GMT
Live on Sky Sports 2

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's qualification for the knockout stages was confirmed when England lost to Bangladesh, but anything less than a win in this match will almost certainly mean that they have to play the winners of Pool B in the next round. If Angelo Mathews' men were tempted to take it easy in this match then this should be reason enough for them not to.

The spirited defeat to Australia at the weekend came at a cost, with Dinesh Chandimal's hamstring injury being added to the long list of medical problems to plague the Sri Lankan squad during this tournament. With batting strength less of a necessity against the Scots and net run rate always a consideration they may play an extra bowler, with Suranga Lakmal the likely beneficiary, especially with Rangana Herath another injury doubt.

Scotland

Scotland have been defeated but not disgraced in this tournament, having troubled all four sides they have played so far. Preston Mommsen's side might ultimately finish the competition pointless, but they have shown that they can be competitive at this level.

'Competitive' won't be enough to help them here and it is unlikely that the likes of Kyle Coetzer and Matt Machan can produce enough runs to keep pace with the likes of Tillekaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara, but the Scots will not stop fighting and - as New Zealand found out in their opening game - if they bat first they can trouble anyone.

Venue and Conditions

Scotland's problem is that all of their good performances have come in New Zealand, and this game is being played in Hobart. Ireland and Zimbabwe played out a 650+ run thriller in the only other game played here, but these sides are much less evenly matched.

Match Odds

Sri Lanka are currently 1.051/20 favourites. Scotland are 19.5 outsiders. That's actually a little un-generous to the Scots, who should finish closer to their opponents than that, but they still won't win.

Top Sri Lanka Batsman

Kumar Sangakkara is the top runscorer in this tournament and against Australia became the first player to score three back-to-back centuries in a World Cup. However, that makes his odds rather unattractive at 4.03/1 and a much better bet will be Lahiru Thirimanne at 4.57/2. He was brutal in making a century against England and will certainly back himself against Scotland's much less penetrative attack.

Top Scotland Batsman

Coetzer made Scotland's highest score in an ODI against Bangladesh, but like Sangakkara his form will depress his odds somewhat. Machan has been a steady contributor to the Scottish cause and represents better value at 4.3100/30