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Cricket

Rain helps England draw Test

22/12/2007

England have drawn the third Test against Sri Lanka in Galle thanks to heavy rain but still lose the series 1-0.

The tourists ended the day on 251-6, still 167 behind Sri Lanka, but were able to claim a draw that looked unlikely at one stage in the afternoon.

Alastair Cook made his seventh Test century to help the tourists stave off defeat before two bouts of rain denied Sri Lanka the chance to finish the game off.

Cook began the day on 53 and was nearly caught in the slips after just three overs of the morning's play but was thankful to see Prasanna Jayawardene put the chance down.

Having played Muttiah Muralitharan so well during the series England were sorry to see the wicket of Ian Bell (34) fall shortly after the Cook chance went down.

The Warwickshire man was bowled by one that kept low on what was turning out to be an unpredictable fifth-day wicket.

Worse was to come for England though as they suffered another middle-order collapse that has blighted their efforts in Sri Lanka this winter.

Kevin Pietersen joined Cook in the middle and the pair put on a solid partnership of 72 before the Hampshire batsman chipped the ball to Mahela Jayawardene for 30.

Paul Collingwood lasted just two ball as he was bamboozled by a Muralitharan 'doosra' and was easily stumped by Jayawardene.

Ravi Bopara's nightmare tour continued when he was out for a pair on the very next ball. The Essex man edged the ball towards slip but still tried to nick a single.

Cook was unmoved at the non-striker's end and Bopara was run-out to leave England on the brink of defeat at 202-5 at lunch.

Soon after the resumption of play Cook completed his century and with a stoic performance from Matt Prior (19 not out) the pair were able to bat out the afternoon session without the loss of further wickets.

Rain brought an early Tea interval after which Cook finally lost his wicket edging Chanaka Welegedara to Prasanna Jayawardene for 118.

But just as Sri Lanka looked set for a charge at victory the ground was struck by rain once more and England were able to walk off the field with a draw.