England vs Pakistan, 2nd Test: No play possible on day 3 as rain plays spoilsport

ISLAMABAD, August 16 (online): Rain meant there was no play at all on the third day of the second Test between England and Pakistan at Southampton on Saturday in a match already plagued by stoppages for bad weather.

Play should have resumed at 11:00 am local time (1000 GMT) but light rain meant the pitch and square remained fully covered, with the floodlights then on full beam. Had the players been on the field, play may well have continued given the rain was only of the spitting kind.

But, with no spectators present in a series being played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus, the floodlights were then switched off in a clear indication the umpires had decided there would not be any action before lunch.

The officials held three inspections in the afternoon before, with rain now coming down harder onto Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl headquarters, they abandoned play for the day at 5.16 pm (1616 GMT) without a ball having been bowled.

Pakistan, 1-0 down in a three-match series, will resume Sunday on 223-9 in their first innings.

Mohammad Rizwan batted with huge skill and resolve in overcast, swing-friendly conditions, to be 60 not out at the end of a second day where only 40 overs’ play took place.