Rain delays fourth day start of England-Sri Lanka Test

CARDIFF: Rain prevented the scheduled 11.00am local time (1000GMT) start of the fourth day's play in the first Test between England and Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens here on Sunday.

England were 287 for two overnight in reply to Sri Lanka's first innings 400, a deficit of 113, in a match where every day's play has been affected by bad weather.

Alastair Cook was 129 not out and Jonathan Trott 125 not out.

Cook's hundred was also his second in as many Test knocks following the 189 he made in an innings win against Australia in Sydney in January.

England's victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground completed a 3-1 Ashes series triumph during which the Essex opener scored a mammoth 766 runs at 127.66.

Meanwhile Trott's sixth hundred in 19 Tests meant the South Africa-born batsman is now averaging more than 66 at this level -- only Australia great Donald Bradman with 99.94 has a better mark among batsmen who have played at least 20 Test innings.

This match is the first of a three-Test series.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011