Lawrence scores unbeaten 50 as rain restricts play on day three at Lord's
Dan Lawrence struck an unbeaten 50 as persistent rain limited play at Lord's on Saturday during day three of the Second Rothesay Test between England and Pakistan, with only 24.5 overs possible.
Second Rothesay Test, Lord's (day three of five) England 290 (Smith 61, Cox 55; Abbas 4-73) & 177-7 (Lawrence 50*; Abbas 3-48) Pakistan 110 (Awais 46; Robinson 4-11, Archer 3-26) England lead by 357 runs. Action did not begin until 14:40 BST, was regularly interrupted until the players left the field at 17:08 and was eventually abandoned at 18:30 in the best weather of the day, prompting boos from remaining spectators despite there being potential for another hour.
Lawrence produced his second half-century in as many Tests and his fifth half-century in Test cricket in conditions described as devilishly difficult for batters, enhancing his case for a place in England's new-look side. He has also been available as an off-spinner but has been required to bowl only one over in this match.
After England resumed on 81-3 the pitch and conditions favoured seam bowling, with the ball darting in the air and off the seam and uneven bounce making batting testing. Pakistan seamer Muhammad Abbas dismissed Emilio Gay lbw for 31 with a delivery that shot along the ground; Gay had reached 30 overnight and was left crestfallen, while captain Joe Root shook his head on the England balcony.
Harry Brook and Lawrence added 45 for the fifth wicket in challenging conditions before Brook was out for 34, superbly caught up to the stumps by wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan. Brook had adjusted his approach to the circumstances before his dismissal.
Lawrence altered his tactics after scrapping to 19 from 39 balls, dancing to slice Mohammad Ali for four and then, from the next ball, hitting the same bowler over the covers for six. Immediately after tea he hit Ali Usman over the leg side for six and reached his half-century from 64 balls; only two more balls were possible before play ended, leaving him set to resume on Sunday.
The match context includes England's rebuild following the retirement of Ben Stokes and the emergence of what has been described as a promising four-pronged pace attack, while the batting order remains unsettled with Jacob Bethell eventually due to return from a knee injury. Lawrence's recall in the absence of Stokes followed a criticised experiment in 2024 when he was asked to open for three Tests; that period was seen as potentially career-defining but he has since been given another chance.
Sunday's weather forecast is described as much better and should provide ample opportunity for England to seal victory in this match and their first series win since 2024; Pakistan will need at least 358 runs to win, having managed only 416 in three completed innings so far in the series.
