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Heavy rain helps England in their battle to save Test

England batsman Alastair Cook watches the ball after playing a shot against Sri Lanka during the fourth day of the third and final Test in Galle, Sri Lanka, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Heavy rain came to England's aid yesterday as they battled to avoid defeat on the fourth day of the third Test against Sri Lanka.

Stumps was called early because of a heavy downpour, with England on their lunch score of 102-1 in the second innings.

The tourists were dismissed for a humiliating 81 in their first innings, in reply to Sri Lanka's 499-8 declared.

Still trailing by 316 runs, England must bat through today's final day to force a draw, but that will not be enough to rescue the series, with Sri Lanka leading 1-0 going into this final Test.

Opener Alastair Cook (53) and Ian Bell (17) will resume at the crease today,

England captain Michael Vaughan was the only batsman to fall in yesterday's play.

Having shared a 67-run partnership with Cook for the opening wicket, Vaughan (24) slashed at a ball from debutant Chanaka Welegedara, with opposing captain Mahela Jayawardene taking the catch at second slip.

Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas (4-28) was the chief destroyer in the visitors' first innings, which was England's worst ever against Sri Lanka.

In Sri Lanka's first innings, Jayawardene made an unbeaten 213 -- his fourth double-century -- and in doing so surpassed Aravinda de Silva's record for the most Test centuries for the nation.

Sri Lanka won the first of the three-Test series in Kandy and the second ended in a draw in Colombo.
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