SRI Lanka’s hopes of a final worthwhile workout ahead of the third and final Test at the Rose Bowl this week were washed away by the weather when rain allowed little more than 12 overs’ play at Chelmsford on the third and final day against Essex.

Only an hour’s play was possible before lunch when rain delayed the start and as the players left the field at the interval, the elements closed in once more.

This time the delay proved terminal and proceedings were called off at 3pm with the match drawn.

In the little play that did occur, the tourists lost two further wickets to finish on 38 for three.

Tharanga Paranavitana was trapped lbw by Maurice Chambers without addition to his overnight single, before Reece Topley had Dinesh Chandimal superbly caught by Ryan ten Doeschate at third slip, also for one, after chasing a wider delivery.

That left the visitors 10 for three and still needing four runs to make Essex bat again.

The necessary runs came from Kumar Sangakkara, who was 19 not out whilst Thilan Samaraweera was 11 not out.

With the wicket of Chandimal, Essex youngster Topley took his match figures to six for 34 from 21.4 overs and the 17-year-old, who is still at school, has now taken 28 wickets in six matches, including five wickets in an innings on two occasions.

Chris Silverwood, his bowling coach at Essex, is naturally delighted with the youngster’s development.

“He has bags of talent and we are delighted with his progress,” said the former England, Yorkshire and Middlesex bowler. “He has a big heart, is quick to take on advice and works hard at his game.

“It’s very encouraging to see the level of progress he has made so far and he’s made a very encouraging start to his career, but he knows there is a lot of hard work ahead of him yet.”

Sri Lanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan remains a major doubt for the Rose Bowl after fracturing his thumb in the second Test at Lord’s.

“There is no change at this stage,” said interim coach Stuart Law. “His thumb is still in a splint, he is also in some discomfort at this stage and the medical team have said that he is highly likely to miss the Test.

“So the game against Essex has proved very useful because it’s allowed a couple of our batsmen to get amongst the runs.

“Young Lahiru Thirimanne, who is only 21, batted well in our first innings and hit 104 before we retired him out, which was a good indication that he was hitting the ball as good as he could.

“It was also great for Sangakkara to get out there and score 153 runs in the first innings and that will do his confidence no end of good.”

>Essex’s Alastair Cook has been made an MBE for his part in England’s Ashes victory over Australia last winter.

Cook scored 766 runs, including a double century and two hundreds, at an average of 127.66 Down Under.

England captain Andrew Strauss and team director Andy Flower received OBEs in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.