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Leicester, Tuesday _ Rain held up the start of Sri Lanka's final warm-up game against Leicestershire at Grace Road here today, and the prospects of play later in the day looked promising when the sun came out despite the forecast being for more rain.

The ground is not among the quickest to dry out and despite the mopping up operations undertaken by the ground staff there were muddy patches visible in the surrounding areas.

The game was initially reduced to 47 overs after the start had been delayed by 45 minutes. Sri Lanka opted to bat first after Aravinda de Silva, leading the side won the toss. But shortly before the umpires took the field, the rains came down.

Sri Lanka left out skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, Muthiah Muralitharan, Pramodya Wickremasinghe, and Ruwan Kalpage.

Wicket-keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana was back in the side after missing the Nottinghamshire game on Sunday with a stiff neck. However, Roshan Mahanama, who scored superb 142 not out in that game is expected to continue the role as opening partner to Sanath Jayasuriya.

With Vince Wells and Alan Mullally on England duty, Leicestershire were minus former England all-rounder Chris Lewis and their overseas player Michael Kasprowicz, the Australian fast bowler.

The teams: Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya, Roshan Mahanama, Marvan Atapattu, Aravinda de Silva (captain), Romesh Kaluwitharana, Mahela Jayawardene, Hashan Tillekeratne, Chandika Hathurusingha, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana, Erik Upashantha.

Leicestershire: Darren Maddy, Ian Sutcliffe, Ben Smith (captain), Aftab Habib, Darren Stevens, Paul Nixon, John Dakin, David Millns, Dominic Williamson, James Ormond, Carl Crowe.