SOUTHAMPTON, Sept 17: England and Sri Lanka must return on Saturday to finish their Champions Trophy Group D clash after persistent rain restricted play to only 32 overs at the Rose Bowl on Friday with England on 118 for three wickets.

After Sri Lanka captain Marvan Atapattu had won the toss and chosen to field, the home side were beginning to overcome a difficult start under overcast skies when rain drove the players from the field, to the disappointment of the 16,000 crowd.

If the rain holds off - and the forecast is not good - play will resume on Saturday with the hope that the remaining 68 overs can be completed with the winners set for a semifinal against Australia.

When England batted, Vikram Solanki hit four fours in a bright 18 before he got an inside edge to a delivery from first change bowler Farveez Maharoof to give wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara a diving catch.

Michael Vaughan, the England captain, never looked at ease in the gloom and after contributing five to a total of 44, played around a delivery from Nuwan Zoysa and his middle stump was lifted from the ground.

Sri Lanka's other success came at 70 when Andrew Strauss, risking a second run to third man, was beaten by Maharoof's perfect throw to his wicket-keeper. England's modest total should have been far worse but some poor fielding and worse catching reprieved both Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Flintoff.

Trescothick was dropped off a steepling catch at mid off by Zoysa while still in single figures and the dangerous Flintoff was put down badly in the slips after getting a thick edge to a delivery from Chaminda Vaas. Mahela Jayawardene was the culprit.

Trescothick more than made up for his good fortune by punishing anything short on his way to an unbeaten 64, which included seven boundaries and came off 95 balls. Flintoff was unbeaten with 21 when the rain arrived from the west with the match evenly poised.

Maharoof's accuracy was rewarded with figures of one for 19 off his ten-over allocation before play was called off in late afternoon when it was clear the match could not be finished in one day.

SCOREBOARD