Rain halted England's progress halfway through the second day of their game against the Sri Lanka Board President's XI in Matara but not before Michael Atherton had completed an unbeaten half-century.

When light drizzle forced the players from the field 50 minutes into the afternoon session, England were 146 for two after 53 overs in reply to the President's XI's 253 all out.

Atherton reached his 50 off 131 balls and was on 67 when rain intervened. Graham Thorpe was with him on 19 from 46 balls and had hit one boundary, a sweep to square leg off the bowling of Niroshan Bandaratillake.

Atherton's one escape came when he was on 42. He was caught at slip off the leg spin of Bandara but it is possible he heard the no ball call before playing the shot.

The Sri Lankans persisted with their spinners but they rarely defeated either batsmen and the captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan, was forced to recall left arm fast bowler Ruchira Perera into the attack in the 50th over. The introduction of pace allowed Atherton to play the best stroke of the day - a dismissive back foot drive that scorched through the covers.

England had lost their two wickets in the second hour of the morning. First to go was Marcus Trescothick who was once again forthright in his approach. He was forced to take evasive action a couple of times by Ruchira Perera, but attacked Bandaratillake when he replaced the left arm fast bowler, hitting him for one six over mid-wicket just before the drinks interval.

But he departed for 38 to a tumbling catch at short mid-wicket by Muthumudalige Pushpakumara off the bowling of Bandaratillake. The breakthrough brought to an end an opening partnership of 68 runs.

Skipper Nasser Hussain joined Atherton at the crease. He drove the ball confidently and looked in good touch. Indeed, the ball before his dismissal, he shimmied down the wicket and lofted Pushpakumara emphatically over mid on for a boundary. However, when he tried to repeat the stroke to the off spinner's next delivery, he was caught at mid on by Dinusha Fernando. He made seven runs from 24 balls in his 34-minute innings.

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