Strauss Presses Claim in Abandoned Match

Wet weather had delayed the start and reduced the match to 38 overs-a-side.

England posted 237 for eight against a Sri Lanka Cricket President's XI who made 76 for one in 17.1 overs before rain returned to call a halt.

England promoted wicketkeeper Chris Read to open the batting and he struck 34 in 49 balls.

But the real success story was Middlesex's Andrew Strauss, batting at number three, who made 83 in 88 balls, and Somerset all-rounder Ian Blackwell, who clubbed 63 in 52.

Read struck six boundaries, mainly through the off-side, but became the first of two quick wickets when he drove at a wide delivery from seamer Gayan Wijekoon to provide a catch behind.

And Rikki Clarke soon followed when he pushed forward and was bowled through the gate by left-arm spinner Dinuk Hettiarachchi.

With the sodden outfield slowing the ball's progress in some areas, Blackwell chose to go the aerial route and swung three sixes to the leg side to complement his four fours.

Having reached his half-century from 42 balls, however, he departed soon afterwards for 63 when he mis-hit to home captain Russel Arnold at cover.

Strauss brought up his own landmark with a swept six and kept the scoring rate healthy alongside Anthony McGrath, leading the side in Vaughan's absence.

Another Yorkshireman Gareth Batty hit two sixes off seamer Akalanka Ganegama in one over but was caught on the midwicket boundary going for a third and Strauss followed in the penultimate over when he chopped Ranjith onto his stumps.

England's attack struggled to contain the Sri Lankan top order, however, as Michael Vandort, a two-cap Test player, and Saman Jayantha provided a rapid response to their chase.

Jayantha began the flurry of boundaries with a pulled six off Richard Johnson and Vandort followed that with two fours off Anderson in the next over, the fifth of the innings.

They kept up the tempo until a fine catch from Solanki at point, held above his head from a Jayantha flash at James Kirtley, earned England a breakthrough in the 13th over.

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