A second washout in as many days ensured that Sri Lanka and New Zealand were forced to share the points from match four of the tri-series in Dambulla.

Clearly it just wasn't meant to happen, but it will be the hosts who will be the more disappointed side after racking up an impressive 203 for three in 43.4 overs before the rain arrived.

New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor had won the toss and elected to field. With rain forecast for the evening the fact that the Duckworth-Lewis method tends to favour the side batting second was very much in his mind, but he was also counting on the early wickets that have generally been forthcoming in Dambulla.

Instead Tillakaratne Dilshan got Sri Lanka off to a flying start, pelting four consecutive boundaries in Kyle Mills' third over to take Sri Lanka to 34 without loss after five overs.

Upul Tharanga fell for 12 with the score on 56 and Dilshan was calmed by the introduction of Jacob Oram and Scott Styris, but Kumar Sangakkara opened his account with a sublime drive down the ground for four.

Styris then bowled Dilshan with one that kept a touch low to send the explosive opening batsman on his way for 44 from 52 deliveries, but Sangakkara was joined by Mahela Jayawardene and although the scoring rate slowed the innings was successfully consolidated.

However while Sri Lanka were never under any great pressure, tension was added to the mix in the 27th over when Sangakkara appeared to collide intentionally with Nathan McCullum while turning for a second run. The Sri Lankan skipper protested that McCullum had blocked his path but replays showed that the bowler has his back turned.

In truth the incident was blown out of proportion by all involved - this was no Gautam Gambhir versus Shane Watson in Delhi scenario - but McCullum did have the last laugh when he played a part in Sangakkara's dismissal three overs later. Sangakkara misread the pace on a Styris delivery as he looked to hit to leg, and the leading edge was well taken by a diving McCullum at short extra cover.

Chamara Silva (41 not out off 57 balls) joined Jayawardene (59 not out off 72) in the middle, and the pair had just begun to lift the rate when the heavens opened for long enough for Mum Nature and her sodden mood to have the final say.

The game was eventually called off at 9pm local time.