England vs Sri Lanka: Final Test dribbles to a draw as rain scuppers England hopes

One wicket falls in the day as wet weather denies home side

England’s attempts to win the third Investec Test against Sri Lanka here at Lord’s were foiled by inclement weather as only 12.2 overs were possible on the final day and a draw was declared at 5.12pm.

The chance to clean up in the series - they have not managed a sweep since they beat India 4-0 at home in 2011 - went up in smoke when drizzle set in during the morning and an almighty downpour hit the ground in early afternoon. Either side of the rain drops they managed 18 minutes of play around lunch, during which Jimmy Anderson removed the Sri Lankan opener Kaushal Silva, and a further nine overs later in the day.

The visitors finished on 78 for 1 and could take a small measure of pride from Kusal Mendis hitting the match’s last delivery - from Joe Root - into the seats for six. No sooner had the ball thudded into the near-empty stand - the majority of the hardy attendees had long since headed for the hills - than the umpires called the players off for the final time. Dimuth Karunaratne finished unbeaten on 37, Mendis 17.

Earlier, Anderson removed Silva for 16 with a wonderful piece of bowling when he sent down a series of away swingers to the batsman, who had added just four to his overnight score, before darting in the in-ducker. Silva shouldered arms expecting another one to leave him, the ball thudded into his pads and the England field appealed as one. Up went the umpire's finger but the opener decided to use a review. Or a waste a review: the ball would have sent leg stump into the middle of next week.

Despite the soggy finish to the series, there were many positives to take from the 2-0 win for Trevor Bayliss’ side. But, as ever with England, change is also afoot with a four-Test series against Pakistan around the corner.

On the positive side, it was an A for Jonny Bairstow - he is denied the plus by his patchy glovework - who continued his wonderful winter form with the bat, backing up his 150 in Cape Town with 140 at his home ground Leeds and 167 unbeaten at the home of cricket, here at Lord’s.

While his batting was hit and hit, his wicketkeeping was hit and miss. There was a tidy performance behind the pegs at Leeds but a messy one at Durham and one shocking drop here at Lord’s that he should have snaffled in his sleep.

Alex Hales has earned himself a further chance to hammer home his credentials as Alastair Cook’s opening partner for the foreseeable with 86 at Leeds, 83 at Durham and a lucky 94 at Lord’s. The much-coveted three-figure score eluded him - he will be kicking himself all the way back to Nottingham for not converting one of the three - but has done enough to avoid the chop.

Not so Nick Compton, whose intense nature at the crease and resulting rigidity proved to be his undoing. Scores of 0, 9, 22 not out, 1 and 19 against an injury-affected Sri Lankan attack do not cut the mustard and England need a new No 3. Scott Borthwick, the Durham left-hander who is averaging 82 this season, is expected to come in for the visit of Pakistan.

Honourable mentions go to Mo Ali for his 155 not out at Durham, less his spin but then he hardly had dry turners to work on, Cook for passing 10,000 Test runs, which hindered his early series efforts as he laboured past the landmark before accelerating away from it with 85 and 49 not out at Lord’s.

Chris Woakes, in for the injured Ben Stokes for Tests two and three, bowled beautifully at Lord’s with little luck (it was off his bowling that Bairstow grassed his dolly) and could retain his place when the Durham man returns if Steven Finn were to make way. Finn found some form at Lord’s but is inconsistency itself.

Anderson, after a mixed tour of South Africa, rediscovered his mojo with 10 wickets at Leeds, and eight at Durham as he forced Sri Lanka to follow on twice. Mind you, conditions could not have been more up his alley. Stuart Broad, as ever, proved a brilliant foil.

Sri Lanka can take heart from improving as the series went on after encountering icy conditions in the two opening Tests. England can be content, but know tougher challenges lie ahead if they are to scale the heights of No 1 in the world rankings.