England win Sri Lanka series as third Test fizzles out to draw

A maiden Test century from Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara's thwarted England's attempts at securing victory on the final day of the third Test at the Rose Bowl.

Sri Lanka resumed on 112-3 this morning, 81 behind England's first innings total, but Sangakkara (119) put on 65 with nightwatchman Rangana Herath (35) to steady the ship.

Herath eventually went lbw to spinner Graeme Swann before Thilan Samaraweera (87 no) added a further 141 with his captain to leave England with an uphill task to avoid the draw.

Sri Lanka were 334-5 when rain set-in at tea. England, with little chance of bowling the visitors out and scoring the winning runs even if the rain did stop, settled for a draw and a 1-0 win in the series.

England did have chances early doors, and it could have been different if captain Andrew Strauss had not dropped Herath at slip off James Anderson's bowling.

Herath survived again when he was given not out after an lbw appeal from Swann. Replays showed the decision would have been overturned on review.

He did eventually fall leg before to Swann as he attempted an unnecessary swipe.

But England needed two or three wickets in quick succession to give them a chance, and Sangakkara and Samaraweera took advantage of some mediocre seam bowling to make the draw the likeliest scenario.

With the rain approaching, Sangakkara was beaten by a slower ball from Anderson, which he sliced to sub fielder Adam Rouse at point.

With the weather dampening the slim hopes of a positive result for England, the two side settled on a draw at tea.