Rain aids Sri Lanka cause

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Ryan Harris has Prasanna Jayawardene caught behind, but Sri Lanka hung on with the aid of rain to draw the second Test

Rain helped Sri Lanka hang on to draw the second Test against Australia in Pallekele.

Only 35.3 overs were bowled on the final day, during which Sri Lanka converted a deficit of 14 into a lead of 80 as they reached 317 for six.

It means Sri Lanka head into the final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, starting on Friday, 1-0 down in the series despite being outplayed for much of both Tests.

Kumar Sangakkara fell earlier in the fourth over of the day to give Ryan Harris, despite a hamstring injury, a second wicket en route to figures of 3-54.

However, Thilan Samaraweera’s 43 – he was dropped on nought by Michael Clarke – enabled Sri Lanka to avert any remaining danger.

The hosts, resuming on 223 for two, lost Sangakkara without addition to his overnight 69 when he edged Harris to Clarke at second slip.

It needed a splendid diving catch by Clarke, diving low to his left from second slip, to account for Mahela Jayawardene, who initially seemed unconvinced by the Australia skipper’s claims to have taken the ball cleanly. He had added 13 to his overnight 38.

Prasanna Jayawardene struck five fours in his 21 before being drawn into one from Trent Copeland that left him off the seam, and Samaraweera was caught behind cutting at Shane Watson shortly after to leave Sri Lanka 307 for six midway through the afternoon.

Fewer than five more overs were possible, though, as rain forced an early tea and prevented any play thereafter.