Rain mars SL vs Aus match

Colombo, March 5: What started as a thick drizzle progressed into a torrential downpour in Colombo, bringing a likely end to the Sri Lanka vs Australia tie at the R Premadasa Stadium. The rain began at the end of the 33rd over of Sri Lanka's innings with the hosts at 146/3 and Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera at the crease. The ground staff were kept occupied as several puddles formed across the ground with no signs of the rain relenting even an hour after it started.

Earlier in the afternoon, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. The hosts' innings commenced in an unsteady manner. In the second over, Tillkaratne Dilshan edged Tait for a streaky boundary over second slip, but later in the over he was caught at that very position. He was out for 4 and Sri Lanka were 7/1. Captain Kumar Sangakkara struck a four each off Brett Lee and Shane Watson in subsequent overs, but surviving opener Upul Tharanga couldn't keep up his end was out caught at point by Steven Smith of Lee for 6. Sri Lanka were 31/2 in 6.4 overs

Then Jayawardene slapped a boundary off Watson to bring up Sri Lanka's 50 in 9.2 overs. But in the 16th over, the same batsman was run out for 23, courtesy a direct throw from Smith and Sri lanka were tottering at 75/3. Sangakkara ran a single off Watson in the 22nd over, to notch up his 50 and a short while afterward, brought up Lanka's 100.

Thilan Samaraweera and Sangakkara kept the runs coming but in the 33rd over with the score at 146/3, the rain came forcing the players off the field. The captain was not out on 73 off 102 balls and his partner was at an unbeaten 34 of 48 balls.