SALISBURY, N.C. – Daniel Whitley came to Millbridge Speedway one year ago for the track’s two marquee races hoping to gain respect and earn his place among the contenders.

This year, he’s returning to the sixth-mile dirt oval with a different goal in mind: winning the sixth-annual QRC Open presented by HMS Motorsport and carrying the banner for the West Coast.

Whitley is one of the “out-of-towners” coming east to North Carolina this week, hoping to spoil the party for the track regulars and claim the $5,151 top prize on offer in Wednesday night’s 51-lap feature.

Unlike last year, however – when the 15-year-old was driving his family-owned, silver No. 57 – this year Whitley will have a full-fledged Factory QRC machine at his disposal when he takes to the track.

The deal for Whitley to drive directly for Jimmy Elledge and Factory QRC came together as part of a package that puts the California teenager on Elledge’s team for the full season at California’s Cycleland Speedway, as well as other big races such as the QRC Open which fit into his schedule.

He’ll be one of several Factory QRC entries at the QRC Open, alongside teammates Karsyn Elledge, Tanner Holmes and dirt open-wheel star Logan Seavey.

It’s an opportunity that Whitley is relishing, calling it “a turning point” for his racing journey.

“The ride with Factory QRC is a big deal for me and for my career,” said Whitley, who turns 16 on May 17. “I’ve known jimmy for a while and I have a huge amount of respect for him and his whole family. I’ve always viewed his program as one of the best out there and what he has done for so many people in the industry is awesome. I am very thankful for the opportunity he has given me to represent his company and get to drive, in my opinion, the fastest race cars in outlaw kart racing.

“Jimmy has been a great mentor throughout my professional development and I’m grateful that this opportunity is coming to a head at such a prestigious event as the Open at Millbridge. It’s really special.”

Whitley made the A-Feature at last year’s Open, but ran into trouble late in the race and was relegated to 13th in the final rundown, retiring with seven laps to go.

He came back to Millbridge in the fall for the KKM Giveback Classic and was running inside the top 10 when he broke a sprocket and had to visit the work area for repairs. After rallying all the way back through the field, Whitley then broke a needle clip in the final laps and ended up finishing 15th.

While he’s endured more than his share of bad luck over the past year, Whitley noted he’s still learned plenty about how to drive the sixth-mile dirt oval and adds that it suits his driving style pretty well.

“Millbridge is such a tricky place to try and master, but it’s so much fun,” Whitley noted. “I would say the only track out west that compares to it is Cycleland; the track is big and at the end of the night when it gets slick is when the racing gets really good.

“Both tracks are places where there’s little room for air and you have to think fast, and for me, I feel like those types of situations are when I’m at the top of my game.”

After cutting his teeth last year at Cycleland and improving on his Open division skillset during the winter months with the Red Bluff Outlaws, Whitley is hoping to cap off back-to-back rookie-of-the-year runs with the biggest victory of his career.

“I’ve won out west, but this race … when you turn on the MAVTV cameras and put big money on the line, the atmosphere jumps up to another level and it becomes something really big for everyone involved,” Whitley said. “It means a lot to race here and to win here would be huge for me.”

In fact, Whitley already knows the way to victory lane at Millbridge. He won the 2015 Box Stock feature during QRC Open week, but would love nothing more than to add another trophy to his collection.

“Winning the Open would be the ultimate, at least so far,” he smiled. “I’m ready to represent the West Coast and hopefully we can bring the trophy back to California with us.”

Practice for the QRC Open presented by HMS Motorsport at Millbridge Speedway begins on Monday, May 20.

Feature racing takes place on both Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22.

INDIANAPOLIS – Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the 2019 Corvette Grand Sport Official Pace Car for the 103rd Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, leading 33 drivers to the green flag May 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt will perform a dual role during the 103rd Indianapolis 500, which starts at 12:30 p.m. (ET). Along with driving the pace car, Earnhardt will serve as an NBC Sports commentator for the network’s first live telecast of the Indianapolis 500.

“I was already excited to attend my first Indianapolis 500 with NBC Sports, but driving the Pace Car just takes it to another level,” Earnhardt said. “The Corvette Grand Sport is an awesome car, and it’s an honor to be asked to lead the field to the green flag.

“I’m proud to be a part of such a prestigious event at a place that means so much to racing history. This will be an experience that I’ll cherish forever.”

This will be the second time Earnhardt has led the field to the green flag of a major race at IMS. He also drove the 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Pace Car at the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard Powered by Florida Georgia Line NASCAR Cup Series race last September.

Earnhardt recorded five top-10 finishes in Cup Series races at the Brickyard during his full-time driving career. His father, Dale Earnhardt, won the second Brickyard 400 in 1995.

“It is exciting that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is going to lead the Indy 500 field to the green flag,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports. “With Dale joining the Indy 500 broadcast crew for the first time, pacing the field in the 2019 Corvette Grand Sport will give him a unique perspective to share with the viewers. We are honored that Dale will add Indy 500 Pace Car driver to his long legacy with Chevrolet.”

Earnhardt retired as a full-time Cup Series driver after the 2017 season and joined NBC Sports’ NASCAR broadcast team in 2018. He recorded 26 NASCAR victories during his storied career, including two Daytona 500 wins.

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most popular and respected drivers in American motorsports in recent decades, and he knows all about speed, passion and tradition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “We knew he would enjoy his first Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge with the NBC Sports team, but driving the Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car will create an even more indelible memory for a lifetime.”

This year marks the 16th time a Corvette has served as the Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, starting in 1978, and the 30th time a Chevrolet has led the field dating back to 1948, when a 1948 Fleetmaster Six convertible paced the race. No other brand or vehicle has served as the Indianapolis 500 pace car more than Chevrolet and the Corvette, respectively.

ST. LOUIS -- Ryan O'Reilly said it happens frequently on the St. Louis Blues' bench. There will be a line change. Forwards Patrick Maroon, Tyler Bozak and Robert Thomas will hit the ice. One of their teammates will acknowledge their energetic forecheck in the opposition zone.

"You can kind of hear guys saying, 'Here they go again,'" O'Reilly said. "It's great to watch them do it, how they wear teams down. They just seem to always be in the right area. It's a line that knows their game."

It's a line that generated a plus-3.78 expected goals plus/minus in 34 regular-season games, second-best on the Blues. It's a line that's generated more even-strength goals (seven) in the playoffs than any other grouping on the team. It's a line that didn't exist last season, because Bozak was a Maple Leaf, Thomas was in the OHL and Maroon was splitting time between the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils. But it's a line that can provide a heartbeat for the Blues when they're flatlining.

"It's been fun. We're a line that has to go out there and compete as hard as we can," Bozak said. "Try to wear other teams down, try and set the tempo as best as we can. And get on the score sheet. That's our job."

Coach Craig Berube put the trio together during the Blues' surge up the standings after Jan. 1. "They just have such great chemistry together," Berube said. "Thomas does a great job of transporting the puck up the ice. Patty's really good along the walls. Bozak and Maroon have done a great job bringing Thomas along as a player, and helped him become a better player."

Bozak is 32. Maroon is 30. Thomas is a 19-year-old rookie. They work on the ice because of their particular skill sets. They work off the ice because they're two kids at heart and one actual kid.

"We're goofy. We're funny. We're like little kids that never want to grow up," Maroon said. "And then you get the young 19-year-old to throw in the mix, and it makes us feel young again."

Thomas has been a revelation in the playoffs for the Blues after a regular season that saw him improve throughout. "I'd say I had a [crisis of confidence] a little bit at the start. I don't think I started the way I wanted to," said Thomas, who had just one goal in 19 games at the start of the season. "But as the season went on, I got more comfortable."

Not coincidentally, that comfort arrived as soon as Maroon and Bozak arrived on his line.

Bozak was signed as a free agent from Toronto last summer, inking a three-year, $15-million contract to help solidify the Blues at center. He spent part of the season on a line with Jaden Schwartz and Alexander Steen, and skated with Maroon and Steen for another part of the season. But when he partnered with Maroon and Thomas, he got a sense of déjà vu.

"Patty's a veteran guy that knows how to score," Bozak said. "I personally do love guys that can protect the puck like that and get around the net. I played with [James van Riemsdyk] for a long time in Toronto, and he's a guy that's good below the goal line and around the net. There are a lot of similarities there. When I played with James, I also played with Mitch Marner, so it's kind of the same element with Thomas. Something I got used to over time."

Patrick Maroon isn't JVR, and Robert Thomas, as of yet, isn't Mitch Marner. But this Blues trio follows that same template, which Thomas appreciated.

"Bozak's been great. He's one of those guys that takes young players under his wing and really helps them out. You look at Mitch [Marner] in Toronto. He's been unbelievable for me, always making sure I'm hanging on to pucks and making the right plays," he said.

Maroon, a St. Louis native, had a well-chronicled path to the Blues last summer, as he took less money and signed a one-year, $1.75 million "show me" contract in order to live closer to his son, Anthony. He ended up with 10 goals and 18 assists in 74 games, but has three goals and three assists in 16 playoff games, including two game winners.

He said he's proud to carry on the tradition of players who go to the greasy areas of the ice for their offense.

"That's my game. Below the top of the circles. Getting to the net. Using my hands. That's how I'm going to score goals and how I'm going to stay in this league," he said.

O'Reilly said he and the Blues have watched this team come together in the past few months, as the rookie and the veterans found their chemistry.

"I think it's perfect. Thommer coming in, building his game since the beginning of the year, making plays that are beyond his years ... it's impressive to see. And then you have two guys that have been around in so many situations. It clicks. They're great to be around for him. And he's great for them, too," he said.

It's the kind of line that typically earns a cult following for its energy and impact. And with that cult following, there's usually a nickname: your Grind Lines, your 3M Lines, your Crash Lines.

"Yeah, we don't really have one. We haven't talked about it too much. But it'd be funny if somebody came up with one," Thomas said.

"I don't know what you'd call it. But we should think of one," Maroon said.

Of course, there's no telling how long they'll remain a line. Game 3 was perhaps their most ineffective game of the playoffs. Thomas saw time on other lines. As the Blues battle on in their series against the Sharks, a line scramble for Berube isn't out of the question. It's happened before.

"I might mix 'em up a little bit here or there," the coach said, "but they've always come back together. They just have such great chemistry together."

No matter what you call them.

Paris Saint-Germain's Timothy Weah has said he wants to establish himself with the French champions next season after returning from a loan spell at Celtic.

United States international Weah, who spent the second half of the campaign in Scotland, told RMC it was his dream to establish himself alongside Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani.

"I just need to go back to PSG and hopefully I can fulfil everything that the coaches and the club needs from me," the 19-year-old said. "My ambition was always to be a player for PSG.

"Coming up from the academy, that was my dream. It was always my dream to be at that level, to play for such a high-class team with amazing players, and that is going to continue to be my objective.

"I love the club and I have been there for four years -- why not make it more?"

Sources have told ESPN FC that PSG will listen to offers for Weah in the summer but will not actively look to sell him.

He is under contract until 2021, and the sources said Strasbourg had revived their interest from last summer while there are other suitors in Ligue 1 and the Premier League.

Weah, who scored four goals in 16 appearances for Celtic, said it had been important to exit his "comfort zone" by making the move to Glasgow.

"It was a challenge," he said. "Being at PSG, everyone knows my last name, and my father [George Weah], so it was a challenge.

"I think that it is really important for footballers to get out of their comfort zone at a young age and see a different environment -- Scotland was that step."

Weah said he wanted to become a big name in U.S. football but added: "That is 50-50. America is really big, and to be a star in that country you have to do a lot.

"You have to score goals, you have to work. I think that I am getting there. The fans, they love me, and they love when I am on the field. I love playing for them and I love playing for my country. It is a complete honour.

"I feel like, some time, I will be a big player."

After saying "No, gracias" to Mexico's Gold Cup squad, Carlos Vela faces FC Dallas with LAFC for the second time in four days. Also on Sunday, the struggling LA Galaxy look to get back to winning ways against Colorado. Elsewhere, Wayne Rooney makes his first visit to Texas when D.C. United faces Houston on Saturday.

Carlos stays home

One would be hard-pressed to think of a more mercurial relationship between a national team and player than Mexico and Carlos Vela. The Cancun-born striker has had a roller-coaster relationship with El Tri, providing some great moments, while at the same time turning down call-ups at various stages of his career. The latest "No, gracias" comes this week with his refusal to join Mexico's Gold Cup squad. While this is not good news for Mexico fans, LAFC backers certainly won't mind.

Whether it's the surfside living in Southern California or being on a good team where he scores lots of goals in front of an adoring fan base -- or probably both -- at age 30 it appears Vela has said enough when it comes to international commitments and just wants to stay put. So be it.

The Mexico striker is on a blistering scoring pace this season, with 13 goals through 13 games, and seven assists to boot. Days after beating FC Dallas 2-0, Vela and LAFC will hit the road to North Texas (Sunday, 7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+) in what certainly could be a postseason matchup in the Western Conference come November.

Rooney rested and ready for Houston

It's that point in the season where midweek games really start to throw a wrench in the preparation plans of teams, but all things considered for D.C. United, Wednesday's 0-0 draw in Toronto was a near-best-case scenario.

Wayne Rooney, Luciano Acosta and Paul Arriola all took the first half off before coming on as a second-half substitutes, meaning they helped secure a road result and should be rested for Saturday's visit to Houston to face the Dynamo (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

It will be Rooney's first MLS match in Texas, and he's visiting at a good time. It is still early enough in the year that it won't feel like a sauna at BBVA Compass Stadium at kickoff; that experience will come on July 4 in Dallas. Hydrate now, Wayne.

- Bell: Meet U.S. Under-20 star -- and Game of Thrones fans -- Paxton Pomykal
- Carlisle: Arena can revive New England, if the Revs buy into his vision
- N. Davis: Hwang is fast becoming an icon in Vancouver's Korean community

Meanwhile, the Dynamo continue to fly under the radar, which suits them just fine. As always, Houston is strong at home and have five wins and two draws in seven games in front of their own fans. Alberth Elis and Mauro Manotas are an unheralded duo capable of putting any defense to the sword. With Rooney and Acosta on one side and Elis and Manotas on the other, there will be a lot of attacking swagger on show in this one.

Galaxy look to bounce back vs. Colorado

After starting the season in bright fashion, the LA Galaxy have reverted to 2017-18 form in recent weeks with three straight losses. The worst one came last weekend at home against New York City FC in a 2-0 final.

Despite that letdown, the Galaxy can still call themselves fortunate as superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic appears to have been given the let-off by the league after having grabbed NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson by the neck in a late second-half skirmish. Normally, a red card would have been warranted and a fine and suspension would have followed, but the Swedish striker has avoided such a fate.

However, even if a punishment comes down in the next 24 to 48 hours, it still does not change the fact that the Galaxy are struggling in other areas. Jonathan dos Santos' absence for the past two matches has been felt, and a defense that gave up only eight goals in the first nine games has suddenly coughed up eight in the past three.

But for any team looking to get back on the right track, the Colorado Rapids seem to provide an outlet, and that's who the Galaxy will face on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Still winless after 11 games and with only two points in the bank, the Rapids are absolutely dreadful, which is why it would be the most MLS thing ever for them to leave California with a win.

The 138th final of the FA Cup, the world's oldest club competition, pits all-star Premier League champions Manchester City against able underdogs Watford.

The odds may be heavily stacked in favour of Pep Guardiola's team, but there is enough cause to believe that Javi Gracia can mastermind a memorable upset that would be a fitting conclusion to what has been a thrilling tournament this season. Here's everything you need to know.

WHERE: Wembley Stadium, London (capacity 90,000)
WHEN: Saturday; noon ET, 5 p.m. UK (live on ESPN+)

BACKSTORY: This is Watford's second FA Cup final (35 years ago, they lost 2-0 to Everton) and for most of their history they've been a second-tier club, though since their most recent promotion to the Premier League in 2015 they've generally been solidly mid-table, finishing 11th this season.

Manchester City are arguably the best team in the world right now and, in English terms, have completed the most dominant two seasons ever, having gained 198 of a possible 228 in winning back-to-back titles. They retained the Carabao Cup this year and would complete an unprecedented domestic treble if they win this too.

MUSICAL ICON: Oasis' Noel Gallagher is a fixture at City games, and he led the title celebrations in the dressing room at Brighton. But Elton John has him trumped, despite having to miss the match to perform a concert in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was actually chairman of Watford on two occasions for a total of 16 years. Plus, his middle name is Hercules, whereas Gallagher's is a more mundane Thomas.

The @oasis classics were in full flow as @ManCity celebrated back-to-back @premierleague titles ? pic.twitter.com/gpA6sgFyx6

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 13, 2019

ROAD TO WEMBLEY: The FA Cup is a straight knockout competition, so luck and happenstance play a key role, especially since the rounds are one-legged: you only play the return leg if it's a draw through to the fourth round. City won all five of their games on the way to the final, but faced just two Premier League clubs (Burnley and Brighton) en route. Watford faced three top-flight clubs on the way (Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers) and only played at home once.

KEY COMEBACKS ON THE WAY: Watford had to come from two goals down in the semifinal to overcome Wolves 3-2 in extra time. Manchester City found themselves 2-0 down with 21 minutes to go away to second-tier Swansea in what would have been one of the shocks of the season. But they stormed back and grabbed a winner with two minutes to go, sealing a 3-2 victory.

KEY BATTLE: Abdoulaye Doucoure and Etienne Capoue vs. the Silva brothers

OK, the latter aren't actually brothers, they just have a chemistry and understanding that suggests either blood relations or extra-sensory perception. If City, as expected, have the bulk of possession and Watford raise the barricades, it will be up to Bernardo Silva and David Silva (or possibly Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne or Phil Foden -- yes, City have that many weapons) to break them down. Capoue and Doucoure form one of the best midfield duos in the Premier League, offering physicality, workrate and tactical nous. If City can't get through them, they'll need to figure out a way around them.

- Ogden: Deeney's journey from prison to FA Cup final
- United need City to win FA Cup to avoid fixture chaos
- Who qualifies for Europe from the Premier League?
- ESPN+: Man City and Watford's road to Wembley

X FACTOR, WATFORD: Gerard Deulofeu

He doesn't always start, but he has the unpredictability and one-on-one ability to create something out of nothing and, of course, his heroics in this very stadium in the semifinal are what got Watford here.

X FACTOR, MANCHESTER CITY: Leroy Sane

The fact that you can chuck the German roadrunner on the pitch late in games, against tired, glassy-eyed opponents is a huge boost. He gets in the box with the ball with an ease rarely seen at this level.

HEART AND SOUL, WATFORD: Troy Deeney

It's the ninth season at the club for this battering ram of a striker who leaves nothing on the pitch and has worked under 11 different managers. Not always the prettiest to watch, but his effort and underdog redemption story -- he spent time in prison for his involvement in a brawl when he was 22 and later passed the equivalent of a GED (General Educational Development) exam -- make him appealing to neutrals.

HEART AND SOUL, CITY: Raheem Sterling

His is also a redemption tale, though more a factor of how he was perceived rather than anything he did. Cruelly and unfairly lampooned as greedy and bling-obsessed when he moved from Liverpool to Manchester City, he is now adored in England and has established himself as a thoughtful commentator on social issues as well. At 24, his star is still rising ...

OLD TIMER, WATFORD: Heurelho Gomes

He's 38, he's no longer a regular, and he's meant to be leaving at the end of the season, even though Watford have asked him to stay another year. But he's immensely popular at the club and the chief cheerleader, whether he starts or not. Definitely one of the good guys.

OLD TIMER, MANCHESTER CITY: Vincent Kompany

He's been here for 11 years, pre-dating the Emirati owners and the transformation of Manchester City into a super-club. Once one of the best defenders in the world, he was slowed by injuries the past three years only to come roaring back this season with some vintage performances (and an improbable key goal against Leicester City) down the stretch. Articulate, bright and a natural leader, when (if?) he leaves then he can pretty much write his own ticket whatever he chooses to do.

WHAT WATFORD HAVE TO DO TO WIN IT: Impose themselves physically in midfield with the Doucoure-Capoue partnership. If, as expected, Gracia opts for two strikers, ensure that they pin back City's full-backs when not in possession and disrupt the build-up as much as possible. Exploit the size advantage on set pieces.

WHAT CITY HAVE TO DO TO WIN IT: Let their superior talent and know-how shine and carry them to victory. Do not get frustrated if the goals take time to come. Drop Sterling into central positions to wreak havoc if Watford pack the penalty box. Dominate the wide areas to stretch the opposition and create gaps for the midfield to exploit.

PREDICTION: Manchester City to win 3-1

It's a combination of nous and firepower. Watford can be very awkward to play against, so if things don't pan out early for City boss Guardiola he may need to find other solutions. Luckily for him, he has a whole array of options to call upon, either from the bench or simply by switching players around.

Big picture

On the eve of the World Cup, there's still time for a tune-up fight or two for a former champion as they gear up for the main event. In one corner, wearing purple and gold trunks, stands the Associate annihilator. Across the ring in the other corner, wearing plaid blue and white, stands the Associate on the rise.

Arguably no Full Member has feasted on global cricket's second-tier opposition more than Sri Lanka. The unorthodox styles of their various talents often pose an unsolvable riddle for Associates. It has meant Sri Lanka has especially enjoyed their fill when raiding European shores.

Before new-age England made 400 totals passe in their drive towards 2019, Sri Lanka's total of 443 for 9 against Netherlands at Amstelveen in 2006 stood as the ODI benchmark for more than a decade. Swinging the pendulum in the opposite direction, they humiliated the same opposition at the 2014 World T20 by bowling them out for 39.

They continued to show no mercy against Ireland on a visit to Malahide in 2016 by sprinting to 377 to close out a 2-0 sweep. The likes of Seekkugge Prasanna made up for lost time by striking 95 off 46 balls having entered the day with 193 runs in 23 career ODI innings.

But they arrive in Edinburgh having lost eight straight ODIs, including a 5-0 sweep at the hands of South Africa. If traditions are made to be broken, then Scotland helped end the wretched run for Associates against Sri Lanka with a seven-wicket win in an unofficial warm-up at Kent in 2017 leading into the Champions Trophy.

After two decades of futility against Test nations, that win became a catalyst to galvanise Scotland's playing group into seeing themselves as serious contenders. It gave them the belief that they no longer have to hope heavyweight opposition shows up overweight and out of shape to be vulnerable enough for a sucker-punch.

Scotland's players know that not only can they stand toe-to-toe and absorb a few stiff shots to the jaw or the ribs, but they have an incredibly effective jab and the ability to score points via power combos of their own through stinging uppercuts, crosses and hooks. They aren't afraid to stand in the middle of the ring and trade punches with a bloodied and bruised opponent, to wear them down and go all 12 rounds if not knock them down to the canvas. Just ask Zimbabwe, Afghanistan and a No. 1 ranked England.

Though Netherlands claimed the WCL Championship and a spot in the 13-team ODI Super League beginning next year, it is Scotland who have made an even more compelling case over the last two years to become the 13th Full Member by virtue of their sustained competitiveness against Test nations. That feistiness was on display once again last week in a two-run loss on DLS to Afghanistan. In fact, a win over Sri Lanka will tick off one of the ICC's defined criteria for applying for Full Membership: having three wins in ODIs or T20Is over top-10 ranked opposition inside 24 months.

That run of form since 2017 has put ringside seats in hot demand. Cricket Scotland announced on Thursday that the malleable capacity at The Grange, capped at 1500 with temporarily imported stands for this series, had sold out for the first ODI. The Stockbridge faithful and a loyal Sri Lankan traveling fan troupe await the ding-ding-ding of bat on ball to signal the opening bell.

Form guide

Scotland LWLLW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka LLLLL

I

n the spotlight

A former MCC Young Cricketer, wicketkeeper Matthew Cross had been simmering with the bat for several years before a breakout 106 not out as part of a 201-run opening stand with Kyle Coetzer in the seven-wicket warm-up win over Sri Lanka in 2017. He followed it with his maiden ODI ton last year, then another against UAE at the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe. Though Kyle Coetzer gets most of the plaudits at the top of the order, Cross remains a threat.

Few players at the forthcoming World Cup find themselves in as strange a position as Dimuth Karunaratne. Not part of Sri Lanka's ODI side since the 2015 World Cup, he has been parachuted in as an emergency captain, following eight successive losses under Lasith Malinga. He must now not only band together a struggling team, but also prove his own worth in the XI. Whether the selectors made the correct choice in installing him as captain remains to be seen, but he will feel a lot better about his leadership if he can produce runs at the top of the order.

Team news

Scotland vice-captain Richie Berrington suffered a broken left pinky in the field after making unbeaten 170 off 145 balls on Monday playing for Western Warriors in Scotland's domestic 50-over competition. Dylan Budge has been drafted into the squad but Berrington's slot will more likely be a toss-up between specialist batsman Michael Jones or Michael Leask's all-round package.

Scotland XI (possible): 1 Kyle Coetzer (capt.), 2 Matthew Cross (wk), 3 Calum MacLeod, 4 Michael Jones, 5 George Munsey, 6 Craig Wallace, 7 Tom Sole, 8 Mark Watt, 9 Alasdair Evans, 10 Safyaan Sharif, 11 Brad Wheal.

It's difficult to pin down Sri Lanka's exact XI, but Lasith Malinga has not yet arrived in Scotland, having played in the IPL final last Sunday, giving an opportunity for some of the medium pacers to make a final argument for being in the first choice World Cup starting XI against New Zealand at Cardiff on June 1.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt.), 2 Lahiru Thirimanne/Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Kusal Perera (wk), 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Suranga Lakmal, 10 Jeffrey Vandersay, 11 Nuwan Pradeep.

Pitch and conditions

Regardless of the finish being decided by Duckworth-Lewis, Scotland's first innings total of 325 looked below par in the loss to Afghanistan last week and the pitch may force bowlers to toil once more. The forecast is calling for rain in Edinburgh from midnight until 1 pm on match day, though the drainage at the Grange is excellent so the probability of completing a reduced-overs match is high.

Stats & Trivia

• Dimuth Karunaratne is one of the few players to have been in the XI on Sri Lanka's last visit to the Grange in 2011. Both he and Mahela Jayawardene made half-centuries opening the batting in Sri Lanka's 183-run win.

• The only other official ODI between the sides was at the 2015 World Cup, which Sri Lanka won by 148 runs.

• Calum MacLeod needs 47 runs to become the second Scotland batsman to cross 2000 runs in ODIs. Captain Kyle Coetzer became the first during his 79 last Friday against Afghanistan.

Quotes

"I think the thing we remember most about the match is the style of cricket we played. We talked about being aggressive with the ball and bat, stamping our authority on the game. It kind of kickstarted from there for everything that followed that so it was quite an important day in Scottish cricket." - Scotland wicketkeeper Matthew Cross reflects on the impact of their 2017 win over Sri Lanka

"We had a bad year for one-dayers but I think we did really well in the Test series. In South Africa, the major thing was team spirit. We played together. There was no senior-junior things. We played 11 as a team. So that sort of thing I want to get into the one-day side as well." - New ODI captain Dimuth Karunaratne on trying to end Sri Lanka's eight-match losing streak

Sri Lanka's national spin coach Piyal Wijetunge will be travelling with the A team to India later this month, with new head coach Roy Dias stressing on the need to get frontline spinners Akila Dananjaya and Lakshan Sandakan back and firing.

Wijetunge has been working closely with struggling Dananjaya after the off-spinner remodelled his action at the start of the year following an ICC ban. He has picked up just three wickets in his last seven limited-overs internationals. Wristspinner Sandakan, meanwhile, has picked up six wickets in nine ODIs since the start of last year, four of which came against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in January 2018.

With both players missing out on Sri Lanka's World Cup squad, Dias believes having Wijetunge on tour will greatly benefit the pair, especially against a quality India A batting unit.

"Akila and Lakshan Sandakan are very important for Sri Lanka Cricket in the future, which is why Piyal is with me. The both of us will work together to make sure they come back strongly," explained Dias at media briefing in Colombo.

"[Akila has been] working on it [his action] with Piyal Wijetunge for some time now, and that's one of the main reasons we're taking him on the tour. This will also be an ideal tour for them because the Indian players are very good against spin, so we can see how they fare there."

Dananjaya, Dias revealed, has also been working on his batting, which going forward could provide an added route into the national side with the national selectors having previously stated their desire for more spin-bowling allrounders to choose from.

"Right now we have Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya and Malinda Pushpakumara [as our frontline spinners on tour] but I wouldn't say they're spinning allrounders as such. Only person you can think as a spinning allrounder is Akila. Right now he's batting well, so most probably he can be a spinning allrounder for Sri Lanka."

On the injury front, Lasith Embuldeniya and Dushmantha Chameera have withdrawn from the squad. Embuldeniya, who had trained with the squad after recovering from a dislocated thumb, had shown some discomfort in the field, while Chameera suffered a recurrence of a niggling back injury. Embuldeniya will be replaced by Malinda Pushpakumara, while Chameera's replacement is yet to be decided.

"Lasith practiced with us and we felt that he's not 100 percent, we were worried about his fielding," Dias said. "There's this emerging team to South Africa and we thought that would be a good opportunity for him, especially after he had picked up five wickets there for the national side there recently.

"Chameera has picked up an injury as well, and we will need to select a replacement. He's most probably out of the whole tour. The prognosis is that he'll take at least two weeks to heal."

Sri Lanka will play two four-day games and five one-dayers over the three-week long tour, with the first four-day match set to take place in Belgaum on May 25. Both squads, which will be captained by Ashan Priyanjan, have a blend of international experience and youth with no less than 13 players having played for the national team.

However, while the team are going in with every intention of winning, Dias, who took over the reins last month, is hopeful of giving as much game time as possible to his new charges.

"The places that we're going to play it's the first time we're playing there, but we'll have two practice days so we can see what the wickets are like and decide on the composition of the team. Definitely our idea is to give everyone a game, because there's no point taking players and keeping them on the bench.

"We have five one-dayers, and just two four-day matches; it's not going to be easy to play everyone in those two games, but we'll try our best. Because this is the beginning for the most of them, especially guys like Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, and also Sangeeth Cooray."

Four-Day Squad:

Ashan Priyanjan (Capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sangeeth Cooray, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Kamindu Mendis, Priyamal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Malinda Pushpakumara, Chamika Karunaratne, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

One-Day Squad:

Ashan Priyanjan (Capt.), Danushka Gunathilaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Shehan Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Ishan Jayaratne, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara

Surrey 380 (Burns 107, Elgar 103) and 255 for 8 (Burns 78, Jacks 54) drew with Somerset 398 (Gregory 129*, Hildreth 90)

Rain ruined the prospect of an exciting finish to the County Championship match between Somerset and Surrey at Taunton, which ended tamely in a draw.

Only six overs were possible in the morning session before the umpires announced an early lunch. Surrey, who had begun the day on 152 for 5 in their second innings, leading by 134, progressed to 187 without losing a wicket.

Play did not resume until 2.15pm because of a wet outfield. Will Jacks reached a half-century but was out for 54. Somerset also dismissed Morne Morkel for 27 and Dean Elgar on 17 to leave Surrey at 247 for 8 by tea.

A total of 34 overs had been lost to the weather and only 33 remained to be bowled. Surrey were 229 runs ahead and the outcome certain before bad light, despite the new floodlights at the County Ground being on, interrupted the final session at 4.15pm. After 15 minutes, the players took the field again, only to shake hands two overs later with the visitors on 255 for 8, leading by 237.

Somerset took 11 points from the game, having won their opening two Championship matches, while title-holders Surrey claimed 12 points.

The first period of play saw nightwatchman Morkel, on nine, dropped by James Hildreth at first slip off Lewis Gregory with the total on 175.

Somerset could not afford such errors as Jacks, who had shown excellent temperament the previous day, progressed from his overnight 31 to a half-century off 84 balls.

Play ceased at 11.25am. On the resumption, Morkel, who had done his job, skied Jack Leach to long-on where Craig Overton took the catch.

For a short while it looked as though England left-arm spinner Leach might go through the Surrey tail, but the only real turn was out of the rough.

Jacks' impressive innings ended when Overton pinned him lbw with the total on 204 the over after Morkel had been dismissed.

Elgar, batting despite suffering from kidney stones, helped take the score to 235 before nicking a Tim Groenewald outswinger through to wicketkeeper Steve Davies.

At 247 for 8, Somerset took the second new ball, but by then any chance they had of forcing a win had long gone.

Rikki Clarke and Gareth Batty were soon facing the occasional leg-spin of Azhar Ali and medium pace of Somerset skipper Tom Abell as an excellent game reached a disappointing conclusion.

Jacks said it was a "frustrating way for the game to end".

"We felt that we could get a big enough total on the board to exert some pressure," Jacks said. "I have been short of a few runs recently, so it was nice to contribute a decent score.

"It was tough batting last night, but having Rory Burns at the other end playing brilliantly was a big help to me. In the end we have come out of a decent performance with 12 points and can move on with confidence."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.