England strengthened their grip on the Lord’s Test, and the three-Test series, stretching their overall lead to 357 after only 24.5 overs of play were possible on the third day against Pakistan on Saturday.

Having already secured a 180-run first-innings lead, England resumed the day at 81 for three. Rain then intervened after 5pm, having already wiped out the entire first session, leaving them on 177 for seven from 46.5 overs when play was finally called off.

Mohammad Abbas picked up three of the four England wickets to fall on the day, finishing with three for 48 to add to his four for 73 in the first innings.

Mohammad Ali, who took four wickets in the first innings, added the scalp of Gus Atkinson to finish the innings with two for 54, while Khurram Shahzad — who had taken two wickets on the second evening — went wicketless on the third day.

Dan Lawrence held England’s innings together with an unbeaten 50 from 66 balls, studded with six fours and two sixes. He added 45 for the fifth wicket alongside Harry Brook (34).

Brook fell to Mohammad Abbas with the total on 128, shortly after Emilio Gay — who had resumed on an overnight 30 — was dismissed by Abbas in the first over of a frustrating day for the batting side. Jamie Smith was then caught at square leg by Shan Masood, also off Abbas.

With the ball doing all sorts off the surface and batting growing increasingly difficult, Pakistan face an uphill task. Their batting is yet to click on this tour of England, and a lower middle-order that has offered little support means there is scant confidence in the dressing room that a target anywhere near 400 could be chased down.

Pakistan’s highest successful fourth-innings run-chase remains their pursuit of 377 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, completed for the loss of three wickets. Their highest fourth-innings total overall is 450, scored against Australia in Brisbane in 2016 while chasing 490 for victory — an innings in which Asad Shafiq’s 137 earned him the Player of the Match award, despite finishing on the losing side.

Scores in brief — Day 3 of 5, Lord’s

ENGLAND 290 all-out, 66.4 overs (Jamie Smith 61, Jordan Cox 55, Gus Atkinson 45, Josh Tongue 30 not out; Mohammad Abbas 4-73, Mohammad Ali 3-86) and (overnight 81-3, 22 overs) 177-7, 46.5 overs (Dan Lawrence 50 not out, Harry Brook 34, Emilio Gay 31, Joe Root 24; Mohammad Abbas 3-48, Mohammad Ali 2-54, Khurram Shahzad 2-56)

PAKISTAN 110 all-out, 37.2 overs (Azan Awais 46, Saud Shakeel 16, Extras 20; Ollie Robinson 4-11, Jofra Archer 3-26, Josh Tongue 2-27)