Jofra Archer claims maiden Test wicket as England take upper hand

Jofra Archer snared his maiden Test wicket as England overcame a sluggish start to put Australia in peril on another rain-interrupted day during the second Ashes Test at Lord's.

In Australia's favour, with two full days' play expected over the weekend, first-Test saviour Steven Smith was at the crease alongside Matthew Wade, who added a century of his own to Smith's twin tons at Edgbaston.

The tourists' fortunes could rest largely on what happens with those two on Saturday's resumption after rain forced play to be suspended just minutes before the scheduled lunch break on Friday and abandoned at 5.25pm without another ball being bowled.

Before that, Australia slipped from 30 for 1 - having lost David Warner late on Thursday, which was the first day's play following Wednesday's washout - to 71 for 4 after England had endured a frustrating first 45 minutes.

Cameron Bancroft and Usman Khawaja had the luxury of leaving a good many deliveries as England persisted with Archer's short-pitched bowling and Stuart Broad as opposed to calling on Chris Woakes under heavy skies, despite the latter two combining to take four and six wickets respectively to demolish Ireland in their second innings amid similar conditions at the same ground three weeks ago.

But when Woakes was introduced to the attack, in the seventh over of the day, it was Archer who drew first blood, trapping Bancroft lbw with a ball that nipped back off the seam, prompting a huge roar of celebration from 24-year-old debutant Archer. Bancroft reviewed but the umpire's call was upheld and he was on his way back to the pavilion.

Woakes struck three balls later, enticing Khawaja into a prod outside off stump to give Jonny Bairstow a straightforward catch behind the stumps. That had Australia teetering at 60 for 3.

Travis Head stayed around for a little while and little reward, adding just seven before Broad had him out to a plumb lbw which England had to use DRS to affirm after umpire Aleem Dar was initially unmoved.

Wade had to rely on an appeal to survive after umpire Chris Gaffaney judged him out lbw to a Ben Stokes delivery which the DRS showed had pitched outside leg, much to Australia's relief shortly before lunch was called slightly early with Wade not out nought, having faced 23 deliveries, and Smith unbeaten on 13.