England advanced to a healthy 357-run lead over Pakistan on a frustrating rain-affected third day of the second Test at Lord’s, as Dan Lawrence (50no) brought up an impressive half-century.
Lawrence battled hard to acclimatise to the uneven bounce on the Lord’s pitch, but would surge to a superb 64-ball half-ton, which included a booming six to long-on, and lead England to a score of 177-7 at stumps.
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Lawrence smashed a booming six on his way to his 64-ball half-ton
Intermittent showers delayed proceedings for almost three-and-a-half hours on Saturday morning, with Emilio Gay and Harry Brook eventually returning to the field to bat at 2.20pm.
Mohammad Abbas took full advantage of the conditions, which were highly conducive to the pace bowlers, utilising the pitch’s uneven bounce to jag the ball left and right and take impressive figures of 3-48.
Gay and Brook struggle in tricky conditions
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Mohammad Abbas left Emilio Gay stunned after pinning him lbw with a low-bouncing delivery
Gay’s time at the crease would be short-lived, with Abbas pinning the England opener lbw with an unplayable delivery in the second over of the day.
The England batter, who fought brilliantly on Friday evening, will feel hard done by the delivery after the ball skidded off the surface, bouncing low under his bat and onto his back pad.
After another rain delay, Brook (34), who had thought his way through his innings, edged Abbas behind to Mohammad Rizwan standing up to the crease.
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Harry Brook was caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan off an Abbas delivery
It was more excellent play from Abbas, who had played his four previous balls down the off side, before coming down much straighter to Brook, jagging the ball away to the off side.
With Rizwan up to the stumps, Brook couldn’t get closer to the pitch of the ball and nullify its lateral movement, with the Yorkshireman ultimately edging behind.
While dark clouds loomed low over the Home of Cricket, the rain held off for another four overs before Abbas produced another jaffa to remove Jamie Smith (7).
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This time, the ball nipped towards Smith’s leg stump, and the wicketkeeper drove forward, pushing an inside edge to Shan Masood, who took the catch comfortably.
An early tea was called as rain began to fall again, but three balls after the break, Pakistan reduced England to 162-7, with Mohammad Ali forcing Gus Atkinson (7) to step across his crease before pinning him on the front pad.
Only 1.5 more overs were bowled before the heavens opened again and the grounds staff raced onto the pitch with the covers.
Fans waited for the players to return to the field and the sun finally broke through the gloom, but farcically, play was abandoned just after 6.30pm due to bad light.
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