MORATUWA (Sri Lanka), Nov 15: England’s practice game against a Sri Lankan Cricket President’s XI could not be completed because of rain here on Saturday.

England scored 237 for eight wickets after a delayed start reduced the game to 38 overs per side. In reply, the home side were 76 for one off 17.1, when rain came back to prevent the game from being completed at the Tyronne Fernando Stadium.

For the visiting side, left-hander Andrew Strauss (83) and Ian Blackwell (63) put on 110 runs for the fourth wicket to help post a big total after electing to bat.

The uncapped Strauss hit five fours and a six during his 88-ball innings while Blackwell’s strokeful 52-ball knock contained four boundaries and three sixes.

Opener Chris Read (34) and Gareth Batty (24) were the others to come good with the bat for England, who were led by Anthony McGrath in the absence of Michael Vaughan.

Vaughan, who led his team to clean sweeps in two Tests and three one-dayers in Bangladesh, decided to rest along with all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and left-handed batsman Marcus Trescothick.

The one-day series starts at Dambulla on Tuesday and will be followed by two day-night matches in Colombo on Nov 21 and 23.

The one-dayers will be followed by a series of three Tests.

Scoreboard