It was one of those days at Lord’s. Rain meant just 24.5 overs were bowled and England’s already dominant position in this second Test meant overall jeopardy was in short supply. The spectators got a 50% refund but this only mildly offset their general frustration of following a sport that is so weather-dependent.
Yet for all this, it may in time prove a significant one for Dan Lawrence. During the two hours of play that were possible, and in hugely challenging conditions for the batters, Lawrence delivered an unbeaten 50 off 66 balls that cut through the gloom and showed his desire to make this latest stab at Test cricket count.
When the umpires eventually abandoned play at 6.32pm – bad light the official reason, despite arguably the best viewing conditions of the day – England had reached 177 for seven and their lead had swelled to 357 runs. Pakistan’s head coach, Sarfaraz Ahmed, hoped to keep the target under 350 after his side’s blowout on day two and Joe Root’s refreshed attack will be licking their lips.
Not only do they get a second crack at a batting lineup they have dominated so far in this series but they will do so on a surface that is increasingly playing tricks. Just ask Emilio Gay, who after resuming on 30 at 2.20pm could manage only one more run before being trapped lbw by a pea-roller from Mohammad Abbas.
In that sense, what followed from England’s batters was impressive. Harry Brook got his head down for 34 from 56 balls, when his default in the past has been aggression. And after getting one early whoosh out of his system, Lawrence followed Brook’s lead, which involved batting on off stump, leaving well, and either playing straight or whipping through the on side when bowlers strayed on to middle and leg.
There was significant seam movement on show and this was not just an ordeal for the batters. Stood up to the fast-mediums, Muhammad Rizwan was forced to scrap hard behind the stumps. His reward was an excellent reflex pouch off the edge of Brook’s bat to hand the ever-probing Abbas his second wicket.
Jamie Smith came and went for seven, chipping Abbas to midwicket after being undone by a delivery that jagged in. Gus Atkinson was trapped lbw by Mohammad Ali. But despite the ball being in the ascendancy throughout here, Lawrence stuck to his method and even enjoyed himself, briefly.
This came when Rizwan stood back and allowed some Fred Astaire feet, including one audacious inside-out six over extra-cover that flew into the lower tier of the Mound Stand. Half-centuries do not categorically lock down spots in the team but it will have done plenty for the 29-year-old all the same.
After being chewed up and spat out by the previous regime – three Tests in the unfamiliar role of opener when Zak Crawley was injured – this was Lawrence’s second half-century in his new role at No 6. It was also a decent recovery from a day one howler, when he needlessly ran himself out.
Whether Lawrence will get the chance to further his innings will depend on Root’s thoughts in the morning. There are two days left in the match but showers are likely to remain a feature. With enough runs on the board already, one suspects, it may well be time to unleash his bowlers once more.
