Vaughan's hopes rest on weather

But England were already into mission impossible territory well before the start of another frustrating 50-minute alliance.

Indeed, that last stand could turn out to be a help rather than a hindrance. Vaughan's men might already be a wicket or two down by now, rather than four without loss going into the fifth day.

England have shown - at home, over here and on neutral territory in Australia - they can subdue Murali if never entirely master him. In this match, though, even old hands like Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe are finding him harder than ever to read. Perhaps the script will become easier to fathom tomorrow.

If not, then it is difficult to see England surviving, given even four hours of play.

"We've got a big job ahead of us tomor row," coach Duncan Fletcher admitted. "We knew we were in for a battle when we lost the toss on Tuesday but the guys have never given up and now we must just hang in there."

Thanks to England's inability to build speedily on yesterday's successes, which had reduced the home side to a somewhat nervy 99 for five, and another last wicket stand of 40-plus against them, Murali was considerably happier than anyone in the visitors' camp.

Or at least he was until the rain returned. England's already slim victory prospects virtually disappeared when they managed to pick up only one wicket in the morning session, during which Sri Lanka moved to 157 for six.

Even that one wicket came via an umpiring error from Srinivas Venkatraghavan when Chaminda Vaas wrongly given out, caught at short leg off the bowling of Ashley Giles.

When England did have a chance to pounce on a misplaced stroke, Richard Johnson made a hash of it. Upul Chandana sliced his drive against Gareth Batty to deep midon where the fielder spilled a twohanded catch above his head.

The first rain break of the day gobbled up 80 minutes of playing time either side of lunch and only a further six had been added after the restart when Giles won an lbw decision as Chandana shouldered arms.

Vaughan ignored the new ball for six overs, preferring to plug away with the old one. Typically, when he changed his mind, Matthew Hoggard and Andrew Flintoff quickly accounted for Kumar Dharmasena and Dinusha Fernando.

But Jayawardene was unmovable and unflappable, battling more than five hours in all to get within 14 runs of a century.

He did not reach three figures because Murali prodded Batty to short leg. By then, though, England supporters did not know whether to cheer or groan.