WORLD Cup holders Sri Lanka are in line to make history by becoming the first major cricket nation to tour Scotland.

Initial approaches have been made with a view to playing a three-day mini Test match and three one-day internationals north of the Border next year.

The Sri Lankans want to use Scotland as a warm-up base before they take on England in the second half of the summer.

Top Test teams have been coming to Scotland regularly - but over the past two decades they have made just whistle-stop visits for one-off limited-overs matches.

Scottish Cricket Union manager Alex Ritchie confirmed yesterday: ''There has been an approach from them and the ball is back in their court at the moment. All I can say is that we know that Sri Lanka are very interested in coming.

''They have talked about the possibility of being in Scotland some time in July, but we are waiting to hear exactly what dates they have in mind.

''We might find it difficult to fit them in for a week because we are due to host the Triple Crown round about then, and the European Championship is likely to be planned for that month, too.''

After qualifying for the next World Cup by finishing third in the recent ICC Trophy in Malaysia, SCU chiefs would be prepared to move heaven and earth to host a glamour side like the Sri Lankans.

Their desire to making an extended visit is more recognition of the sport's rising profile in Scotland in the wake of their success in Malaysia.

One stumbling block, however, could be a likely demand from Colombo for cash guarantees, which would leave the SCU with the task of finding sponsorship for the matches.

q Kevin Curran hit a cavalier 91 not out to lead Northamptonshire's onslaught on a poor Lancashire attack in the County Championship match at Old Trafford. Curran smashed nine 4s and two 6s in his 146-ball innings as Northants rattled up 281 for four at the close.

He and Tony Penberthy put on 110 for the fourth wicket before Penberthy fell to occasional slow medium seamer Steve Titchard.

Before their stand, slow left- arm spinner Gary Keedy had pulled Lancashire back into it with two quick wickets.

He first snapped up Rob Bailey after the former England Test man had scored a 90-ball half-century to end a 90-run partnership between Bailey and Richard Montgomerie, who was then dismissed one short of his 50.

Derbyshire skipper Dean Jones battled to give his team the edge against neighbours Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. The former Australian Test batsman was unbeaten on 71, guiding the visitors to 283 for five off 92.2 overs, when bad light stopped play.

Kent opener David Fulton made a brave return to the crease to help boost his team's cause to 245 all out, after first retiring hurt with a suspected broken forearm against Sussex at Horsham.

Fulton (35 not out) took a sickening blow from the pace bowling of Paul Jarvisand and came back from a trip to hospital to find his team plunging into big trouble.

It was not Jarvis but fellow seamer Vasbert Drakes and off-spinner Keith Newell who did the damage, both taking three wickets.

Trevor Ward (67) and Graham Cowdrey (28) managed to keep Sussex at bay, and Fulton remained battered but still standing till the end, helping No.11 Ben Phillips to put on 29 for the last wicket.

Sussex had made 102 for four in reply with Ben Phillips and Paul Strang taking two wickets apiece.

Australian Matthew Hayden braved the weather long enough to smack his first half-century this season against county opposition to put Hampshire on a handy 94 for one off 37 overs against Glamorgan at Cardiff.

A series of interruptions through rain and bad light which saw a total of 67 overs lost failed to prevent Hayden shining on a frustrating day.

Yorkshire fell to 52 for three in the 22 overs that were possible against Somerset at Taunton.

Play was washed out in four matches - those between Warwickshire and Middlesex at Edgbaston, Durham and Worcester at Chester-le-Street, Gloucestershire and Essex at Gloucester, and Leicestershire and Surrey at Leicester.

At Cardiff. Hampshire 94-1 (M L Hayden 54 not out) v Glamorgan.

At Old Trafford. Northamptonshire 281-4 (K M Curran 91 not out, R J Bailey 58) v Lancashire.

At Trent Bridge. Derbyshire 283-5 (D M Jones 71 not out, V P Clarke 50) v Nottinghamshire.

At Taunton. Yorkshire 52-3 v Somerset.

At Horsham. Kent 245 (T R Ward 67, K Newell 4-61) v Sussex 102-4.

There was no play yesterday in the games at Chester-le-Street, Gloucester, Leicester, and Edgbaston.