By David Ornstein

Cook maintained his composure superbly to bat for most of day five

Alastair Cook recorded England's first century of the series as the tourists salvaged a draw in the final Test against Sri Lanka.

But that failed to prevent a 1-0 series triumph for the hosts, who dominated in Galle as they had in Kandy and Colombo.

One Muttiah Muralitharan over saw Kevin Pietersen caught, Paul Collingwood stumped and Ravi Bopara run out.

But Cook (118) steadied the ship before rain ended the match prematurely with England on 251-6.

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Sri Lanka will feel hard done by having declared their first innings on 499-8 before bowling England out for a mere 81 on day three.

But Michael Vaughan's men, who bowled Sri Lanka out just once in the entire series, responded with courage and composure to take a sliver of respectability with them on Sunday's flight back to the UK.

They do, of course, owe much to the heavens, which opened on day four when England were facing the possibility of batting out two whole days to avoid an innings defeat.

And there were two further rain breaks on day five, the second of which came shortly after Cook edged Chanaka Welegedara to Prasanna Jayawardene and as Sri Lanka appeared primed to wrap up the tail.

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It was Cook's seventh Test ton but Sri Lanka made three of their own and one double century to boot.

Resuming on 102-1, England made a confident start to the day and, under blue skies, it looked as though they would have to occupy the crease for as long as eight hours.

But Sri Lanka should have struck in the third over when wicket-keeper Jayawardene put down Cook, then on 54, off the bowling of Lasith Malinga.

Cook, attempting to clip a ball through midwicket, was fortunate to see the wicket-keeper drop what appeared a straightforward catch down leg side.

However, Sri Lanka would have to wait only five overs for the breakthrough as Murali got one to spin back from outside off stump, keep low and beat Ian Bell (34) ends up.

Cook was joined at the crease by Kevin Pietersen and the pair put on 72 for the third wicket, although the time they spent together was more important.

The 22-year-old played with great poise but nothing could prepare him for the carnage that soon followed as England lost three wickets in four balls in one Muralitharan over.

Three England wickets fell in one Muralitharan over

With 20 minutes remaining before lunch Pietersen, who passed 3,000 Test runs en route to a neat 30, half-volleyed a Murali delivery with minimal control straight into the hands of Mahela Jayawardene at short mid on.

Pietersen was rightly furious with himself but worse was to come when, two balls later, Paul Collingwood failed to read the doosra, lurched forward, missed the ball entirely and was stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene for a duck.

Then, with Murali's sixth ball of the over, new batsman Bopara succumbed to a dreadful run-out.

The Essex all-rounder thought his edge had beaten Mahela Jayawardene at slip so set off for a run - but it had not and his scramble back to the crease was futile.

Sir Lanka's captain collected the ball and returned it in one movement, allowing his namesake Prasanna to whip off the bails.

That secured Bopara's pair and his second golden duck of the series.

It was left to Cook and Matt Prior to lead England towards the 416 they needed to make Sri Lanka bat again.

Cook brought up his century with a flick through midwicket and, although the run rate slowed, he remained unmoved for a considerable length of time.

Sri Lanka cranked up the pressure following the first rain delay and, after Murali had a series of leg before shouts rejected, saw Cook dropped by a combination of Prasanna Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara two balls before he finally fell.

Prior (19) and Sidebottom (0) then stood resolute and the rain did the rest.