Rain halted play at Lord's on day three, leaving England needing just five more wickets to seal the match. In the limited 9.4 overs that were bowled, Ollie Robinson claimed two crucial scalps, dismissing Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell in successive overs. New Zealand slumped to 53-5, still 201 runs short of their target.

New Zealand entered the afternoon on 55-5 in their second innings, requiring 199 runs for a rare victory at the venue. The innings was disrupted by a morning deluge and a wet outfield, forcing an early lunch at 12:20 pm under the brightest conditions. Spectators and pundits criticised the scheduling, with Ian Ward labeling the situation "ludicrous" as rain returned before play could resume.

Michael Atherton noted that the damp, overcast conditions made batting treacherous and shifted the odds heavily in England's favour. With day four set to begin at 10:15 am, England stands on the brink of their first Test win of the series, while New Zealand faces a steep climb to avoid a defeat that would deepen criticism of their recent performances.