England finished a rain-restricted fourth day in Galle on 102-1 - greatly increasing their prospects of escaping from the third Test with a draw.

Alastair Cook hit an unbeaten 53 as the visiting team finally showed some mettle before the weather closed in shortly before lunch.

Michael Vaughan was the only wicket to fall, caught off Chanaka Welegedara for 24, while Ian Bell finished 17 not out.

England need 418 to make Sri Lanka bat again and avoid an innings defeat.

By Tom Fordyce

606: DEBATE Have your say on the third Test in Galle on 606 (from 0900 GMT)

e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Tom Fordyce' in the subject), text 81111 (start your message with the word "CRICKET") or use 606. Not all contributions can be used.

RAIN STOPPED PLAY

C'est tout. Super work on the email front - really hit the right areas today. Lots of positives to take from the day. If we can go out and stay focused, keep the right performance mindset, we've every chance in this series.

See you at 0400 GMT on Saturday. What a way to start the weekend.

1001, from Daniel Norman: "How about, for Paul Collingwood, 'Jawdi Jinjawarria'?"

1000, from Patrick Woods: "For Chris Read - 'Whidontheypikame Imthebestnatrulkeepa'."

0958, from Thomas in Halifax: "My best effort so far using Malinga's full name 'Lasith Separamadu Malinga' - 'U Slap A Mad Hair Slinga Mate'?"

0955, from George Ankers: "Graeme Swann: Winoplayin Kudabeenastar."

0950, from Sam Davies: "For Andrew Flintoff we might have: 'Bigadrinkar Navasaydaya Bukketlikehandis'."

0945, from Dr Roland Parker: "What about for Harmison, 'Wochoutsekonslip Itsakkominatcha'?"

0939: Against all BBC rules, I'm going to keep this commentary going until 1000 GMT, just so we can keep the diversions alive for a touch longer. From Geoff Halford in York: "How about Matthew Hoggard - Gimmeetcherry Ahcudbenditpastyerere."

0933: Breaking news - play is over for the day. Yup, it's lashing it down again, and they've sacked it off. Which is a shame for Sri Lanka, and also for the future of these rather enjoyable diversions.

From George Ankers, the Netherlands: "It's my last day of school for the term and I should be researching for my Spanish coursework. But I'm pretty sure a comedy Sri Lankan name is more important. Monty Panesar: Cultiheero Kannatgetawiket."

0929, from Jason in Manchester: "Re Andy Perkins 0841: He may claim to fight dirty, but his choice of the cloying sweet ketchup for his breakfast sandwich rather suggests otherwise. Brown sauce on a bacon butty is the breakfast of champions, whereas tomato ketchup is only acceptable for old ladies or people convalescing from a serious mouth injury, who may require a gentler condiment."

0923, from Paul Newman: "Re: Martin's e-mail at 0901: 'Wide Boys' was a great call, but very distressed to see the band being referred to as 'Ultravox' rather than their correct title 'Ultravox!' - they lost the exclamation mark after their second album, though this was not as bad as losing their lead singer John Foxx after their third album, to be replaced by that irritating Scot with the tiny moustache."

0915, from Craig Morgan: "Kudos instantly removed from yourself Tom. Wide Boys was Ultravox. Duran Duran did Wild Boys.Tut Tut."

It makes no difference that I've been up since 3am - that's a disgrace. I've shamed myself. Martin in Maidenhead, I apologise.

0909, from Hazel in Hackney: "Ryan Sidebottom: Curlihaira Asadanothadroppedoffahim."

0901, from Martin in Maidenhead: "Tom, I'd get your sister a sat nav system in order to help her escape Chelmsford, and surely Harmy will be listening to Wide Boys by Ultravox."

Points for Wide Boys, Martin, instantly lost with Ultravox/Duran Duran mix-up. What's so wrong with Chelmsford, anyway? Fantastic flyover, decent multistorey, cricket ground once graced by Ken McEwan and Don Topley. Plus St Etienne's Sarah Cracknell was born there.

No?

0857, from Brian in Vancouver Island: "Last effort before bed (it's 12.30am here: for 'Sangakkara and Jayawardene', since it's raining, how about 'Ark? Dank arena, Jay saw agenda'."

0853: Galle update: it's still raining, there are clouds the size of Derek Pringle overhead and lightning flashing about two miles away. I wouldn't be surprised to see a plague of locusts come humming into view.

0851, from Paul in Lancs: "On the middle sister present issue, can I suggest a homemade voucher enabling her to do a day's live text commentary with the BBC? If she cashed it in an autumn '08 ODI, you'd get a day off to do your Christmas shopping on time for once, and she'd get to dish some dirt on you for our enjoyment."

There is no dirt, Paul. I have lived a life as unsullied as a Mother Superior's duvet.

0849, from Andrew Tatham: "This one's better: Tillakaratne Dilshan = 'Tall ask halted in rain'."

0843 - from Nigel in Hungary: "I would think that for Muralitharan, a more appropriate anogram would be Him A Turn Lara. Said in pigeon English, naturally."

0841 - from Andy Perkins: "Tom, buy your sister a bacon and egg sandwich from the local place under our office. They're on special offer at �1.99 today. I've had mine with red sauce. Anyone who wants to start spouting brown sauce nonsense should be aware I'm particularly hungover and fight dirty."

0835: New benchmarks are being set - check this from Andrew in Fulmodeston: "Tillakaratne Dilshan = Task all halted in rain". Nice. Very nice.

0833, from Stephen Ryde: "Re Ed at 0815: Michael Vaughan - Presidin Overbatnball Loosas."

0831, from Keith in Wellington: "I'll have two guesses to what S Harmison is listening to:
1. Here I go again on my own - Whitesnake
2. I Believe in Miracles - Hot Chocolate

0823, from Kevin in Italy: "What kind of music is Harmison listening to? Swing, of course."

0819: Down comes the rain, back on go the covers. Scratch that 90-minutes-till-we-start scenario - we could be parked in the pavillion for a couple of hours at least.

0815, from Ed in Gloucestershire: "Having given up any hope of anything good happening in the cricket, I suggest that some of the English players adopt Sri Lankan names. Here's one to start with: Matt Prior - Lardidigits Cudnacatchacolda."

0813, from Jason Loom: "Anagram of Muralitharan: 'Arm Haunt Liar'."

Careful Jason. Be very careful.

0811: The covers are being hauled off, but don't get too excited - the word from the middle is that mopping-up miracles will be required to get us going again before another hour and a half is up.

0808, from Peter: "Mutiah Muralitharan - 'I am a human truth trial.'"

0755, from Trevor in Rochester: "Try this for Prasanna Jayawardene: 'Any japes near an award?'"

0745, from Arron in Nottingham: "How perfect is it that someone called Kenneth Williams came up with the 'Belly Flop' joke (0704 GMT)? I swear I actually heard a Sid James cackle on the breeze as I read it."

0735: The way it's looking up above, we're going to need a topic to keep us busy for a wee while. Take your pick from the following:

1. What Steve Harmison might be listening to on his well-known brand of mp3 player (clue: he's nodding slowly while he listens)
2. The best anagram you can get from the name of one of Sri Lanka's starting XI
3. What I can get my middle sister for Christmas (steers: she's 32 years old and lives in Chelmsford)

From Gordon in Taunton: "I say we summon the powers of positive thinking. All we need is to knock up a total of about 668 runs before the end of the first session tomorrow, thus giving us a 250 run lead. Then it's just a simple matter of bowling Sri Lanka out. How hard can it be? Are we men or mice?"

0725: Staggering amounts of rain out there. There's so much water on the covers that one of the ground-staff has just slipped over in a large puddle, in the style of John Noakes in the elephant business on Blue Peter all those years ago.

0704: The munching of lunchtime sandwiches is interrupted by rain so heavy it could dent a roof. No chance we'll be starting on time after lunch. Pour yourself another cup of Assam and I'll keep you posted.

From Kenneth Williams, Frankfurt: "If Ian Bell fails, is that a Belly flop, or does he just go Belly up?"

0622: LUNCH - Eng 101-1
Spots of rain in the air as Cook accumulates another single off his hip, and that's the ton up. It's also an early lunch, I'd say, as the enormous plastic sheets are dragged on at pace by the hundreds of ground-staff. Cook's parked on 53, Bell on 17, and England are a mere 316 runs behind. See you in about 30 mins - I've got a meeting with a coffee so strong it could wake Lazarus's grandad.

From Andy in Brisbane: "Tom - has an opening batsman ever scored more in his second innings than the whole team did in the first? There we go, that should account for Cook in the next couple of overs."

0614: Eng 99-1
Hello - Slinga's back in for a speedy joust before lunch/rain. Bell stands firm in a not entirely convincing manner. A glimpse of Michael Vaughan in the England dressing-room - his chin is on his chest, and he's pouting like a sulky Bardot.

0609: Eng 99-1
Nice from Belly - a back-foot drive off the returning Chaminda that has elbow high and eyes out on stalks. Those large grey clouds are now making their way up the garden path, and could shortly be knocking on the front door.

If you've got the chance to put ear to radio during the lunch break, our pals on the aural version of TMS will shortly be giving you the chance to "ask the analyst" - the eagle-eyed Simon Hughes. You can e-mail him at tms@bbc.co.uk, text 84040 or contribute to the TMS Blog.

0600: Eng 93-1
Nods of approval as Cookie leans back to tap a single square and bring up his half-ton. The England balcony put palm to palm and Cook looks shyly pleased, like a teenager told by a friend's mum that she likes his new haircut.

From Andrew Devine, Kazakhstan: "Despite what I said in a previous email about England not being able to win a goldfish at the fair, let alone a Test match (series), what is the point of wishing for rain? That means we definitely won't win this Test. While we're still batting, there's still a chance, right?"

0554: Eng 89-1
Belly drives Murali's attempted yorker for a pair of twos, getting the toe-end of his blade on another. Squeals from the close-in fielders.

0549: Eng 83-1
Murali's doosra is so well disguised it while as well come with a false moustache and thick-rimmed dark glasses. Cookie pokes hopefully and misses it by a foot.

From Mick Anderson: "Surely Gilchristean?"

0545:
Hold on - what's this? Storm clouds are gathering behind the Galle pavilion...

0542: Eng 82-1
Cookie takes his time against Vaas before forcing the last ball of the over through cover to take England past their first innings score. Crack out the party-poppers.

0538: Eng 78-1
Murali serves up a large slice of tweak pie and beats Bell all ends up. Bell blinks in nervous school-boy fashion but he manages to get a brace of twos on the off side.

From Gavin Hudson: "Does that last wicket go down as bowled: Fordyce? I feel I might share some responsibility, as I was going to send you an email saying, 'Has a team ever surpassed their first innings total score, with the loss of no wickets?'"

0530: Eng 72-1
Here comes Ian Bell, face smeared with white sun-block as if he's been eating from a bowl of cream trifle with his hands tied behind his back. Cook waits for a shorter one from Welly and cracks him square for a Gilchristesque four.

From Tom in New York: "The efforts of Cook and Skip were like a man rearing up during a triple heart bypass operation, only to exclaim that he wants to prolong the operation - and thus his agony."

0523: WICKET - Vaughan c M Jayawardene b Welegedara 24, Eng 67-1
Will I never learn? Seconds after my jinx appears on the page, Vaughan chases a fullish wide one angled across him by leftie Welly and Jaya takes the pouch in front of his chin at second slip. What a clown - me, that is. I'm so sorry.

0515: Eng 61-0
Here we go - Murali's coming on, and he's grinning like a crocodile. Vaughan sweeps him bravely before Cookie steps away and leaves a short turner. If it wasn't a certain mockers-inducer, I'd say England are looking comfortable here.

0509: Eng 57-0
Gulps all round as The Cookmeister jabs two through the plunging slips from Welly's wobblers. Welly winces at the end of his follow-through before turning and trudging back like a man with a lead weight attached to each ankle.

0503: Eng 51-0
Applause from the England fans as the 50 partnership comes up. The claps then freeze on their fingers as they realise another 367 runs are needed to make Sri Lanka pad up again.

0457: Eng 46-0
Cut and thrust from Cookie and Welly. The sad-eyed England tyro pushes an attempted yorker straight for a casual four and then steps back to crack another off the back foot to the same spot - only for Welly to bend one past his hopeful edge the very next delivery. Oohs and arghs from the slip cordon.

0449: Eng 35-0
Dilshan on for a twirl. Interesting. Welly's come on for a rumble at the other end and nearly had Skip cleaned up with a crafty late in-dipper. The drinks cart makes an appearance on the boundary and it's quench o'clock all round.

0444: Eng 31-0
Nice nudge from Skipper off his pads for a proper four, and then a brace of byes as Slinga stings Jaya's fingertips behind the timbers with a rasping head-ripper.

0438: Eng 24-0
All very flinty out there - lots of exaggerated leaves and prolonged holds of forward defensives. On the England balcony, KP is slumped in an easy chair, wearing his red vest and fiddling with a set of traveller's beads hanging round his neck.

From Dom in Manilla: "Morning Forders. What chance an Atherton/Russell type rearguard action with Biscuit Bones and Cookie both closing the day on 17 not out?"

0428: Eng 22-0
Cookie's setting himself for a long 'un here. He's squinting from under the lid with the concentration of an eight-year-old at a spelling bee. For the rain-makers among you, it's sunny and clear overhead in Galle. Of course it is.

From Ethan in Paris: "I read Paul Collingwood's comments following yesterday's debacle. His words were, 'what has happened is pretty much unacceptable from the players' point of view', which made me question, what the players would class as 'totally unacceptable'?"

0420: Eng 16-0
Chaminda eases in to Vaughan and nearly does him a la first innings, only for Skipper to jab down on it like man slapping a wasp that's just landed on his exposed knee.

0412: Eng 13-0
Vaughan toys with Malinga, pretending to play and miss and then deliberately edging just shy of first slip. Cunning. Very cunning.

From Dave in Virginia: "Go easy on the lads. A couple of overs in and they haven't lost a wicket yet. Of course this email will take a few seconds to get to you..."

0408: Eng 11-0
Explosive start from the mighty England - two pushed twos to leg from Vaughan, and a stiff-wristed edge along the ground through the slips from Cookie. Mahela and the lads must be quaking in their spikes.