The groundstaff were in the limelight for almost all day as the big covers were being rolled in and out as a mind-boggling play between rain and was sunshine taking place at the picturesque venue surrounded by green hills.

Only 29 overs could be bowled and Bangladesh reached 72-4 with captain Mohammad Ashraful (4) and Tushar Imran (6) at the crease before the umpires finally called off play for the day due to bad light one hour before schedule.

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene enjoyed his hundred per cent coin luck in the series and as usually put the opponents in to bat under overcast conditions.

The home team were without strike bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando but fast bowler Lasith Malinga struck in the very third over when he trapped Javed Omar leg before for eight.

The Tigers, whose two first-innings totals in the series were 89 and 62, looked heading for another miserable performance but former skipper Habibul Bashar came to bat at number three -- his regular position -- after a long gap to briefly halt a debacle, pairing with Shahriar Nafees before rain stopped play after only 12 overs.

It was then a long lunch as play resumed midway through the regulation second session but only for less than six overs. Farveez Mahroof, however, capitalised on the damp surface as he extracted extra bounce to brush the ball on Bashar's (18) gloves on way to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Bangladesh reached 53-2 before rain again stopped the proceedings and after a long break, they only returned to action in the last session to face only eleven overs when spin wizard Muttiah Muralidaran piled on the misery by picking up the wickets of Rajin Saleh and Nafees.

Rajin, who failed to open his account in 29 deliveries, was clueless to a Muralidaran 'doosra' and edged to Mahela who took a sharp catch at first slip.

It was not so easy for the tourists to concentrate after so many interruptions but the way Nafees got out frustrated his teammates when the left-hander unnecessarily went for a reckless shot to give a simple catch to Sujweea at mid-off. Nafees looked well composed but once again killed his innings prematurely for only 29 off 77 balls, featuring four boundaries.