Cricket: Weather aids England bid; FINAL TEST: Cook leads tourists' rearguard action . . . as rain lends a hand.

Byline: Richard Gibson in Galle

HEAVY rain today boosted England's bid to save the Third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.

England lost captain Michael Vaughan during a determined rearguard on the fourth morning before a light shower halted play seven minutes before lunch.

The downpour increased in intensity during the interval, however, leaving vast puddles on the ground's protective covering, and the day's play was eventually abandoned.

Vaughan shared a 67-run stand with Alastair Cook, who recorded a third half-century of the series, and England, after following on 418 runs in arrears yesterday, were 102 for one.

He perished chasing a wide delivery from debutant Chanaka Welegedara in the 19th over of the day.

But that was the sole loss in England's two-day bid to avoid a 2-0 campaign defeat.

Half-a-dozen wickets fell in the first 11 overs of the first innings but aside from two edges for four by left-hander Cook, both of which landed short of the slips on their way through, there were few alarms in the quest to survive during the first half of today's session.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene rotated his attack regularly in the search for a breakthrough, using five bowlers in all, but it was not until the 18th over of the morning that Muttiah Muralitharan was introduced.

Cook outscored his first-wicket partner, twice punishing Welegedara in the 14th over of the innings.

A full toss was driven straight for four and a short ball was cut hard to the boundary.

Arguably the best of his seven boundaries in reaching 50 came in the next over when he bisected two fielders on the off-side with an extra-cover drive off Tillakaratne Dilshan.

England looked to play their shots despite the need for survival and Vaughan's demise came about when he chased a wide one from left-armer Welegedara and sliced to Jayawardene at second slip.

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BELL STRIKES... Ian Bell hits out as England fight to save the Third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Galle today.