Day 3 at Lord’s, which is called the moving day turned out to be a rainy day at the Home of Cricket as the forecast predictions proved perfect. Incessant rain washed out the majority of play with about 24-25 overs being possible as we lost the first session. Thereafter, Mohammad Abbas and his fellow mates took advantage of the overcast conditions with exaggerated movement to strike for Pakistan and give them something to cheer about.
England in their second innings might be struggling at 177/7, but they are ahead by 357 runs and have 3 wickets in hand. Daniel Lawrence has held fort with his half-century while the others have fallen in and around him. He has Ollie Robinson for company and with Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue to come, England would want to add more come Day 4. But this lead looks more than sufficient considering Pakistan’s batting form in this tour so far.
Mohammad Abbas’ triple strike dents England in a stop start afternoon session
The first session was washed out as mentioned earlier, and play finally got underway at 6:50 PM IST, 2:20 PM Local Time with Emilio Gay and Harry Brook resuming proceedings for England while Khurram Shahzad had the ball in hand for Pakistan. Shahzad bowled a decent first over. Mohammad Abbas had the ball in hand from the other end. He started with a beauty where the ball kept low and Gay could not do anything about it as he was trapped right in front LBW for 31 off 74 balls with 6 fours to his name. Gay decided not to opt for DRS and rightly so.
Daniel Lawrence came out to bat next as Abbas started with a wicket maiden. Shahzad continued and bowled a maiden. Lawrence broke the shackles as he skipped down the track and looked to slash hard. The ball got the outside edge and flew over the slips for a boundary. Shahzad continued as Brook came down the track and clipped it past mid-on for a boundary. Brook got a streaky boundary away as he threw his hands at it and got the outside edge between slip and gully for a boundary.
Abbas continued and bowled a maiden yet again. Shahzad continued as Brook survived a minor LBW scare as the decision on the field was NOT OUT. Pakistan challenged it and burnt their review. Abbas continued and had bowled 3 balls in the 30th over when the weather intervened and stopped proceedings for around 15 odd minutes. Play resumed around 7:45 PM IST and 3:15 PM Local Time with Brook and Lawrence resuming for England while Abbas had to completed the unfinished over which he did without any drama.
Shahzad continued as the 100 came up for England in 30.2 overs. Lawrence then took on Shahzad as he shuffled across and flicked it between short midwicket and mid-on for a boundary. Abbas continued and bowled a probing over. Lawrence then was in the zone and took the attack to Shahzad by hanging back and pulling it in front of square for a boundary to mid-on and then punched it firmly past Babar at mid-off for a boundary. Abbas continued and bowled a probing over.
Mohammad Ali came back into the attack next. Brook took him on with a shuffle across and clipped it past short midwicket for a boundary as the lead went past 300 runs now. Abbas continued as Brook leaned into the drive through mid-off for a boundary. Abbas had the last laugh as a few balls later he dismissed Harry Brook for 34 off 56 balls with 5 fours to his name as Brook nicked the ball through to Rizwan who took a good catch behind the stumps. Keeper batter Jamie Smith came out to bat next.
Ali continued as Lawrence took him on by skipping down the track and got the outside edge that flew over gully for a boundary. Then Lawrence was in his mood as he skipped down the track and lofted the ball over deep extra covers for the maximum. Abbas continued and bowled another probing over. Ali continued and overstepped but bowled a decent over. Abbas continued as Smith clipped the ball with a flick towards wide mid-on for a boundary. Abbas once again struck for Pakistan as he removed Smith a few balls later for 7 off 13 balls with one four to his name as the batter lobbed the ball to Shan Masood at short midwicket.
Gus Atkinson came out to bat next. Ali continued as the 150 came up for England in 40.1 overs. Ali bowled a probing over. Abbas continued and kept things under check. Ali continued and bowled another decent over. Ali Usman the spinner came into the attack for the first time this innings. He bowled a decent first over. Ali continued as Atkinson showed wrist work by whipping the ball away past midwicket for a boundary. England reached 162/6 in 44.3 overs when rain came back into the proceedings with Lawrence unbeaten on 37 and Atkinson unbeaten on 7. Players left the field as Tea was taken at this stage.
Mohammad Ali removed Gus Atkinson while Daniel Lawrence completed his half-century before rain played spoilsport in the final session
Daniel Lawrence and Gus Atkinson were back to resume proceedings after Tea while Mohammad Ali had to finish his unfinished over before the interval. Ali struck straightaway on the last ball of the unfinished over as he dismissed Atkinson for 7 off 21 balls with one four to his name LBW plumb in front and the batter did not challenge the call. Ollie Robinson came out to bat next. Ali Usman took the ball from the other end as Lawrence stepped out and slogged it away through midwicket for a boundary.
Lawrence then took on Usman and got down on one knee and slog swept it over deep midwicket for the maximum. The lead went past 350 runs. Mohammad Ali continued as Lawrence reached his fifty in 84 balls, his 6th test fifty and first since his comeback. England were 177/7 in 46.5 overs when rain once again intervened. Subsequently, the rain continued with the intensity growing and easing and after a long wait the umpires called off the day’s proceedings despite the sun peaking through late in the day but it was too late.
Bad light came into it as the day ended with England at 177/7 in 46.5 overs with Lawrence unbeaten on 50 off 66 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes to his name alongside Robinson unbeaten on 2 off 2 balls. 10 extras given by Pakistan so far.
It was a better day for Pakistan bowlers under helpful conditions. The star of the show was Mohammad Abbas with figures of 3/48 in 18 overs. Khurram Shahzad finished with 2/56 in 14 overs. Mohammad Ali finished with 2/54 in 12/5 overs. Ali Usman conceded 17 runs in 2 overs. So, England lead by 357 runs with 3 wickets in hand at Stumps on Day 3 and still on top in this Test match.
What Lies Ahead on Day 4
For starters, let’s hope we have a better forecast in store than Day 3 as the moving day was wet to say the least. Day 4’s forecast seems better than 3 but we will get a fair idea when we get closer to the action. As far as the Test match goes, if we look at the proceedings in isolation, one may say Pakistan had the better of the day. But truth be told, they are still way behind in the game. England despite having a challenging day with the bat are still on top. They lead by 357 runs and have 3 wickets in hand.
The aim for England will be add a few more for the last 3 wickets as Lawrence will try to bat with the tailenders. Get the lead over 400 will be their aim. Pakistan’s mission will be damage control. They have done that to an extent and will like to wrap it up and chase under 400. But then their real test shall begin as they have to produce an unbelievable batting display to do something special. But for now, England are in the box seat.
Let’s see how Day 4 unfolds at Lord’s, weather permitting.
Also Read: ENG vs PAK: Ollie Robinson’s Fiery 4-Wicket Haul Destroys Pakistan