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Ollie Robinson brought England within reach of victory at the Lord’s Test against New Zealand, despite a third day cut short by rain, allowing for less than an hour of play.
Returning to international cricket after a two-year hiatus, Robinson impressed with figures of five for 39 in the first innings, which included a remarkable triple-wicket maiden. In the second innings, he further troubled the New Zealanders, reducing them to 55 for five.
Statistically, the third day of a Lord’s Test is ideal for batting, yet inclement weather turned it into a challenging affair. This resulted in Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell falling for low scores, joining the list of dismissed batsmen.
Robinson, bowling under overcast skies and with the aid of floodlights, struck twice in just four deliveries shortly after the play resumed for a brief period during a rain-interrupted afternoon.
Bowling with damp in the air and the floodlights on to improve visibility, the 32-year-old struck twice in four balls soon after the third resumption of a stop-start afternoon spell of play.
Ravindra walked to the crease on a king pair and bearing a heavy debt to his team-mates after spilling two straightforward catches on the first day. Although he avoided the ignominy of another nought, his participation in the match ended soon afterwards when Robinson squared him up from round the wicket.
The Sussex captain’s performance here has left people wondering what effect he might have had on the Ashes last winter given that he bowls at a similar pace to Australian seamers Michael Neser and Scott Boland.
Ollie Robinson has returned to the England team with a bang – with his side on the verge of victory over New Zealand
That pair often operated with the wicketkeeper stood up to the stumps, something that Jamie Smith replicated when Mitchell came in at No 6. During New Zealand’s first innings of 113 all out, Mitchell took guard out of his crease in a bid to counter the sideways movement but Smith’s ploy now forced him back.
And Robinson was soon the beneficiary as Rod Tucker adjudged that a delivery angled into the batsman was hitting leg-stump. A review confirmed it was, but only on umpire’s call.
Seeking further breakthroughs before the rain became terminal, Ben Stokes posted two leg slips and a short leg, but Tom Blundell, who struck 186 in Test victory over Ireland last week, survived alongside Devon Conway.
Only the hardiest of supporters remained in the stands at 5.30pm when confirmation came that the New Zealand sixth-wicket pair would begin again on Sunday – in what are expected to be the best batting conditions of the match – needing an unlikely 199 further runs to prevent England registering a morale-boosting, post-Ashes win.