England strengthen their grip on day two

England took firm control of the third Test at Edgbaston on Thursday, piling up a 320-run first-innings lead before reducing Pakistan to 52 for 2 in their reply, with rain eventually bringing an early end to a fast-moving day's play.

Resuming on 154 for 4, Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence gave the hosts an assured start in the morning session, stretching their fifth-wicket partnership to 86 runs. The pair was crisp in picking up the extra run, ensuring the scoreboard moved at a healthy pace. But an adventure too many proved costly — in an attempt to pinch a quick single, Brook was caught short of the crease on 75.

Lawrence and Smith keep the momentum going

Lawrence continued the march for England in the company of Jamie Smith, who took a more adventurous route after surviving an early leg-before appeal. Despite nursing a finger injury, Smith made his intentions clear by hitting Saim Ayub over long-on off only the 11th ball of his stay.

Batting in contrasting fashion, the duo added 64 runs before Lawrence inside-edged Mohammad Imran Randhawa on to the stumps, handing the bowler his maiden Test wicket. Soon after the lunch break, Smith brought up his half-century, while Gus Atkinson was cleaned up by Randhawa's inswinger.

Razaullah dismissed Smith and Ollie Robinson after their brisk stand, but with a healthy lead to boast, England took the aggressive route and added 122 runs in the next 19 overs, with each of the lower-order batters making a healthy contribution.

Pakistan stumble at the start of their reply

With a mountain to climb already, Pakistan were pushed further onto the back foot in the very first over of their second innings. Ayub fell off the first ball, looking to drive Robinson and ending up handing the slip fielder an easy catch. To make matters worse, Abdullah Shafique followed him back to the pavilion three balls later.

Azan Awais, who had displayed tremendous restraint so far in the series, went for the counter-punch this time, cracking three boundaries in an over off Jofra Archer to get the innings going. Shan Masood looked troubled early on and was even put down by Ben Duckett at third slip, but he hung in to give Awais company before two spells of rain brought an early end to the day's play.

Brief scores: Pakistan 133 (Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21; Josh Tongue 4-42, Ollie Robinson 3-15) & 52/2 (Azan Awais 29*; Robinson 2-10) trail England 453 (Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69; Razaullah 4-148) by 268 runs.