England will return Thursday to chase down a 240-run victory target and stay alive in the seven-match series against Sri Lanka after rain forced play to be suspended in the fifth one-day international in Pallekele on Wednesday.
In-form Kumar Sangakkara hit a cultured 91, but England paceman Chris Woakes (six for 47) tore through the Sri Lankan lower order to bowl out the hosts for 239 in 49 overs.
A torrential downpour then kept the players off the pitch and prompted the match officials to finally abandon the day’s play.
England, who are 3-1 down in the series, will return to chase down their target in 50 overs.
For inspiration, the tourists can look back on the 2004 Champions Trophy match at Southampton against the same opponents. That spilled into the reserve day, before England captain Michael Vaughan and his men won it under the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Current captain Alastair Cook returned to the side after serving a one-match suspension for a second slow over-rate offence in the third ODI and won the toss, putting the hosts in to bat.
He had reason to feel vindicated as the scoreless Kusal Perera edged the third delivery of the match from Steven Finn to second slip.
The other opener, Tillakaratne Dilshan (35), hit six boundaries in his breezy, 31-ball knock before dragging a Chris Jordan delivery onto the stumps.
Sri Lanka slumped to 59 for three when Jordan, involved in the first four dismissals, caught Mahela Jayawardene at the lone slip off Woakes.
Sangakkara played with characteristic cool as he and captain Angelo Mathews (40) added 85 runs to steady the innings, even though they found boundaries hard to come by. Jordan dismissed Mathews in the 34th over but Sri Lanka, at 172 for four, looked well-placed for a late assault in the final 10 overs.
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Day 2, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Pakistan’s effort in the field had hints of shambles about it. The wheels were officially off when Wahab Riaz lost his run up and aborted the delivery four times in a row. He re-measured his run, jogged in for two practice goes. Then, when he was finally ready to go, he bailed out again. It was a total cringefest.
Stat of the day – 139.5 Yasir Shah has bowled 139.5 overs in three innings so far in this Test series. Judged by his returns, the workload has not withered him. He has 14 wickets so far, and became history’s first spinner to take five-wickets in an innings in five consecutive Tests. Not bad for someone whose fitness was in question before the series.
The verdict Stranger things have happened, but it is going to take something extraordinary for Pakistan to keep their undefeated record in Test series in the UAE in tact from this position. At least Shan Masood and Sami Aslam have made a positive start to the salvage effort.
Eyasses squad
Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)
Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)
Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)
Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)
Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)
Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)
Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)
Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)
Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)
