Australia took their time building on their first-innings lead on the third afternoon of the second Ashes Test on a grey Friday at Lord’s, adding 130 for the loss of two wickets before rain intervened in the post-tea session to stop play.

With the downpour looking unrelenting, the umpires called off play for the day. Australia were firmly in the driving seat with a handsome lead of 221 runs with eight wickets left. The visitors will be looking to set England as big a target as they can, bidding for a 2-0 lead in the series.

For England, whose ‘Bazball’ noise has fallen silent in front of stiff Aussie defence, the trick will be in taking early wickets on Saturday.

In contrast to England’s swashbuckling approach with the bat, Australian openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner put on 63 runs at a snail’s pace before Warner (25) was trapped lbw by a ball nipping in from Josh Tongue in the 25th over.

It is only the first time since 1971 that two sides’ opening partnerships have scored more than 50 runs in the first three innings of a Test match, though the methods have been different. Warner’s 25 came off 76 balls, a glacial pace compared with England’s Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in the first innings.

At the other end for Australia, Khawaja, batting on 58 off 123 balls, has now faced more balls in the first two Tests of an Ashes series in England than any batter since his compatriot Bill Brown back in 1938.

Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed by James Anderson for a scratchy 30.

The collapse

Earlier in the day, England’s last six wickets tumbled for just 47 runs in a helter-skelter hour-and-a-half of play, taking the home side to 325 in reply to Australia’s first innings score of 416.

The Australians picked up where they left off on Thursday, bowling short and hostile to defensive fields. England resumed on 278/4 and lost the wicket of captain Ben Stokes to a wicked second ball of the day by Mitchell Starc. That triggered the collapse.

Harry Brook scored a fifty but could proceed no further with Starc claiming his 313th wicket, tied with Mitchell Johnson for fifth on Australia’s all-time list.

With inputs from Reuters, AP/PTI

Lyon out with calf strain

An injured Nathan Lyon on crutches at Lord’s on Friday. Getty Images

London: Australia off spinner Nathan Lyon will miss the rest of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s after straining his right calf.

Lyon was hurt while chasing the ball after tea on Thursday. He had earlier dismissed Zak Crawley.

Cricket Australia called the strain “significant” in a statement on Friday. The statement didn’t say how long he will be out for.

“He will require a period of rehabilitation after this match is concluded,” it said. “A decision regarding his availability for the remainder of the series will be made at the conclusion of the game.”

Lyon arrived at Lord’s on crutches on Friday, and on the field he received a consoling pat from England captain Ben Stokes after the Australia team huddle before play began.

Todd Murphy looks set to make his Ashes debut in the third Test at Headingley.

AP/PTI