Rain Delays England's Victory at Lord's

LONDON — The covers stayed on and the wait went on. England arrived at Lord’s on Day 3 with a series win in their sights, only for steady London rain to slam the brakes on a dominant position against Pakistan.

Showers swept across northwest London through the morning, preventing an on-time start at the home of cricket and threatening to strip momentum from a match England have controlled almost from the outset.

If the weather relents, England will resume their second innings on 81-3, already 261 runs ahead and striding toward a second straight victory after last week’s innings win at Headingley. The equation is simple: time versus runs. England have plenty of the latter; the former now belongs to the skies.

The scene at Lord’s told its own story. Groundstaff guarded the square, sheets of white tarpaulin glistening under grey clouds, as players stayed in the pavilion and spectators peered out, hoping for a break in the gloom. Every fresh shower felt like another over lost, another small reprieve for Pakistan.

England’s grip on the three-match series, though, remains firm. One more push — whenever the rain finally loosens its hold — should be enough to finish the job. The only real question is how much of Saturday will be left when the umpires can finally say: play.