Rain earns Sussex draw

A soggy fourth day at Hove saw Sussex draw against the dominant and unlucky Sri Lankans without a ball being bowled. The third day had seen Laslith Malinga put the Sri Lankans firmly in control but resistance from Oliver Rayner with a century on his first-class debut had given the home side a very slight opportunity of earning the draw.

Strong performances from Upul Tharanga, 140, Thilan Samaraweera, 100, and Chamara Kapugedera, 134, were the highlights of the first two days and Malinga’s performance yesterday gave himself a good chance of earning selection for the second test between England and Sri Lanka at Edgbaston.

Sri Lanka 521-5 declared
Upul Tharanga 140, Chamara Kapugedera 134*
Timothy Linley 1/56, Christopher Nash 1/63

Sussex 262 all out
Oliver Rayner 101, Carl Hopkinson, 32
Laslith Malinga 5/79, Nuwan Kulasekara 3/35

Sri Lanka 5/1
Kumar Sangakkara 2*, Jehan Mubarak 0*
James Kirtley 1/2