Rain helped Sri Lanka draw the first test against West Indies at the Galle, after the visitors had enforced the follow-on on day four.

Looking to bat out the whole day, rain came at the perfect time to help the Lankans, when they were 241-4 post-lunch. The downpour forced an early tea break, but the rain kept recurring to force the match into conclusion.

With 59.2 overs bowled in the day, the Lankans had probably done just enough when the shower set in. It would have disappointed Windies who had got two early Lankan wickets through the brilliant Kemar Roach.

Dilshan had just added 10 runs to his overnight total of 44 when a blistering Roach yorker uprooted his off-stump and sent it flying. Sangakkara (4) was the paceman's next victim, edging to Sammy outside off-stump.

However, Sri Lanka had Tharanga Paranavitana to thank for as he added to his overnight total of 44 to make 95 runs carrying the team through lunch along with Mahela Jayawardene.

Windies lost their sharpness after lunch and they let too many runs slip through too easily. Spinner Shane Shillingford, despite his dismissal of Paranavitana for 95, didn't create too many problems for the Lankan line-up.

Parnavitana looked nervous in his 90s and Darren Sammy held at slip after he edged a Shillingford delivery.

Former skipper Jayawardene was more confident in handling Shillingford finding the fence twice through point. He got to his half-century with a six off Brendan Nash but soon fell to the same bowler, chipping a tame delivery back to him.

Rain forced an early tea with Samaraveera and AD Mathews in the middle. However, the downpour never really subsided and the match was called a draw. Unsurprisingly, Chris Gayle was adjudged man of the match for his triple-ton in the first innings.

The second of three tests will be played at Colombo starting from 30th November, Tuesday.

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