England v New Zealand Day 3: Rain Denies England Victory as Robinson Strikes Twice to Leave New Zealand Clinging On at 55 for 5

The Story of the Match

NEW ZEALAND started the third day of the 1st Rothesay Test Match at Lord's on 36 for 3 from 11.5 overs, with Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra at the crease, in search of a further 218 runs to win and England needing 7 wickets for victory. However, steady rain falling on and off during the playing hours meant only 9.4 overs were possible across the entire day, with New Zealand adding just 19 runs for the loss of 2 wickets and a full refund due to those supporters who had come through the gates.

Play started finally, but only 11 balls were possible before the rain came again and the players left the field, the score moving to 37 for 3 from 13.4 overs. When the players returned, New Zealand took the total to 49 for 3 from 17 overs before the rain came back once more, with Conway on 19 not out and Ravindra 4 not out at that point.

Rachin Ravindra had recorded a first-ball duck in the first innings and he looked edgy from the outset in this second visit to the crease. He was bowled with his off stump knocked back by a lovely delivery from Ollie Robinson for 8 from 21 balls with a single boundary four when the New Zealand total had reached 53 for 4 after 18 overs. Robinson was looking dangerous, taking full advantage of the overhead conditions, the dampness in the air after repeated rain showers and the tricky surface of the pitch.

Daryl Mitchell was next to fall, lbw to Robinson for 0 from 3 balls when the total was 53 for 5 from 19.3 overs. It was the lowest run per wicket in a Test Match at Lord's since the summer of 1958 - the batters on both sides throughout the match having lacked confidence on a difficult surface. The players left the field for the last time at 55 for 5 after 21.3 overs at 14.12 pm, the rain falling steadily for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. The umpires announced play had been abandoned for the day at 5.30 pm.

New Zealand's second innings total remained at 55 for 5 from 21.3 overs, the tourists requiring 199 more runs to win with England needing 5 wickets for victory. The weather forecast for the fourth day is expected to be clear with no long spells of rain.

England 1st Innings: 140 all out, 39.4 overs (Brook 56, Duckett 19; Jamieson 5 for 62, Smith 3 for 38, O'Rourke 2 for 25)

New Zealand 1st Innings: 113 all out, 29.5 overs (Jamieson 38 not out, Phillips 34; Robinson 5 for 39, Tongue 3 for 40, Atkinson 2 for 9)

England 2nd Innings: 226 all out (Gay 57, Smith 39, Duckett 33, Robinson 29; Smith 6 for 70, O'Rourke 2 for 46)

New Zealand 2nd Innings: 55 for 5 (Conway 19 not out, Williamson 18; Atkinson 2 for 16, Robinson 2 for 18, Tongue 1 for 15)

Author's Standout Players

• Ollie Robinson (England) - Continued his outstanding match with two further wickets in difficult, rain-interrupted conditions, bowling Ravindra with a fine delivery and trapping Mitchell lbw to leave England needing just five wickets for victory on day four
• Devon Conway (New Zealand) - The left-hander has held firm through the chaos of the shortened day, unbeaten on 19 and carrying the weight of New Zealand's survival hopes into what promises to be a decisive fourth day