England drive home advantage against Pakistan on rain-shortened third day at Lord's

Play did not until after lunch after persistent rain in the morning, with the hosts resuming on 81-3 but they were soon losing wickets at regular intervals in seam-bowler friendly conditions.

Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas capitalised on an up-and-down Lord's pitch, offering prodigious lateral movement, to claim three wickets while fellow pacemen Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali both picked up two scalps apiece.

Emilio Gay was the first to be dismissed on third day when the opener was trapped lbw by Abbas with a delivery that kept low.

Abbas continued in the same vein, removing Harry Brook and then Jamie Smith as England slipped to 149-6.

Lawrence was at the other end though continuing to play his shots and eventually strking six fours and two sixes to be exactly 50 not out when rain came down again.

It was a sixth Test half-century for the middle-order batter and is starting show promise in the number 6 position vacated by the retirement of former England skipper Ban Stokes.

Before England's innings victory in the first match against Pakistan at Headingley, where Lawrence also scored a half-century, he had played his previous Test as an opener in the home series against Sri Lanka in September 2024.

READ MORE: Dewald Brevis stars as Proteas hit back in T20 tri-series against Zimbabwe