Root, Moeen rally before rain

LEEDS: Sri Lanka endured a morning of frustration at Headingley as determined resistance by England's sixth-wicket pair, Joe Root and Moeen Ali, was followed by drizzle and an early lunch on the final day of the second Investec Test at Headingley.

Visions of a first series win in England remained strong for Sri Lanka, with the rain not expected to stick around for long, but a night's sleep seemed to have cleared England heads after their atrocious fourth-day display had left them 57 for 5, well adrift of a target of 350.

England made only 26 in nearly 18 overs in front of a smattering of spectators as Root contentedly committed himself to a morning's deadbatting and Moeen sought to steel himself to a defensive game that is more alien to him.

Sri Lanka's recovery had been admirable - England were 311 for 3 in their first innings at one stage, ahead by 54 - but they must have feared a final, cruel twist as the Headingley pitch played relatively calmly and rain began to rob time from the game.

Root;s brief enthusiasm for an impossible single, refused by Moeen and causing him to dive back into his ground, was not a promising sight for England, nor particularly were Moeen's first two boundaries off Dhammika Prasad, which whistled through point and gully off an open face.

But worrying moments for England were few and far between. Prasad, hero of the fourth evening, was rested, Rangana Herath found little turn and England supporters searched the weather forecasts with growing hope that a draw might yet be salvaged. Those who suggested England could somehow chase down the runs seemed, however, to be living a fantasy.