Dan Lawrence out cheaply again but Ben Duckett shines for England at gloomy Oval

Dan Lawrence continued his lean spell as England’s makeshift opener, falling cheaply on the first morning of the third Test against Sri Lanka.

Lawrence was out for just five after the hosts were sent in under gloomy skies at the Kia Oval, leaving him with just 85 runs at an average of 17 in the series.

Sri Lanka won the toss in what looked like perfect bowling conditions – with thick grey clouds overhead and the floodlights on from the start – but struggled to generate chances.

Ben Duckett’s half-century carried England to 76 for one in 15 overs before bad light and drizzle forced an early lunch.

A misjudgement from Lawrence provided their only respite, shaping to drag Lahiru Kumara into the leg side but instead looping an ugly top edge to gully.

The Surrey batter threw his head back in dismay long before the ball settled in Pathum Nissanka’s hands, aware that the opportunity he has waited more than two years for could be slipping away.

Lawrence had taken 11 balls to get off the mark and his lack of fluency was exposed by Duckett’s breezy 51 not out, coming off just 48 deliveries.

Duckett hit seven fours, the first a streaky edge before he began to assert himself. Milan Rathnayake suffered most, Duckett swatting him with an air of disdain.

The left-hander charged at the seamer’s fifth ball and pummelled it to the extra-cover ropes, before repeating the stroke with his front-foot planted. Rathnayake leaked 25 from his three overs, unable to keep Duckett quiet.

Lawrence fell in the 10th over, trying to manufacture a pull shot that was never on for a third consecutive single-figure score.

Stand-in skipper Ollie Pope has also been light on runs but he started with a flourish, stepping back and launching Kumara for six over square leg off the last ball before the drinks break.

England’s progress was checked by the weather, with the umpires bringing the lunch interval forward to 12.40.