PALLEKELE: England will start their innings in the crucial fifth One-day International against Sri Lanka on Thursday after rain ended play in Pallekele on Wednesday.

The tourists had restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 239 in even-match the series, which the hosts lead 3-1.

Although it is an ODI, the rules allow England to start their innings on Thursday’s reserve day after the second half of Wednesday’s play was washed out at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

England must reach their 240 victory target to stay alive in the series.

Dark clouds which had threatened to open up during the latter stages of the Sri Lankan innings caused a steady shower at the innings break.

Scoreboard SRI LANKA:

T.M. Dilshan b Jordan 35 M.D.K.J. Perera c Jordan b Finn 0 K.C. Sangakkara c Root b Woakes 91 M. Jayawardene c Jordan b Woakes 2 A.D. Mathews c Woakes b Jordan 40 H.D.R.L. Thirimanne lbw b Tredwell 8 B.M.A.J. Mendis c and b Woakes 12 N.L.T.C. Perera c Root b Woakes 27 S.M.S.M. Senanayake b Woakes 0 K.T.G.D. Prasad not out 5 B.A.W. Mendis b Woakes 0

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-2, W-15) 19

TOTAL (all out, 49 overs) 239

FALL OF WKTS: 1-3, 2-54, 3-59, 4-144, 5-173, 6-199, 7-202, 8-212, 9-238.

BOWLING: Finn 6-0-28-1; Woakes 8-0-47-6 (5w); Ali 10-0-50-0 (3w); Jordan 10-0-56-2 (2w); Tredwell 10-2-33-1 (1w); Root 5-0-21-0 (2w).

ENGLAND: A.N. Cook, Moeen Ali, J.W.A. Taylor, J.E. Root, E.J.G. Morgan, R.S. Bopara, J.C. Buttler, C.R. Woakes, C.J. Jordan, J.C. Tredwell, S.T. Finn.

UMPIRES: R.S.A. Palliyaguruge (Sri Lanka) and R.J. Tucker (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: B.N.J. Oxenford (Australia).

MATCH REFEREE: D.C. Boon (Australia).

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2014