Scoreboard

England rode their luck to reach 184 for three against Zimbabwe on the first day of the rain-affected first Test at Lord's.

Mark Butcher was at the crease, unbeaten on 52, with Robert Key on 11, when bad light ended the day early, with 59 overs bowled.

Earlier, opener Marcus Trescothick hit his 16th Test half-century after a recent run of poor form. He fell for 59 after a 76-run stand with Butcher. He was caught by Sean Ervine off Andy Blignaut.

His audacious approach was in stark contrast to fellow-opener Michael Vaughan after Zimbabwe put the home side in on a difficult, damp pitch in overcast conditions.

Vaughan, the world's most successful batsman last year and with the much tighter technique, retreated into his shell in an attempt to survive the swinging ball only to fall for eight after batting for almost an hour and a quarter.

Vaughan missed more than he hit. At one stage he was beaten outside the off stump three balls in a row by Blignaut.

Trescothick, in contrast, opted for attack and barely played a false shot after his slice past gully for four in the first over of the day.

BRADMANESQUE

The left-hander, relying mainly on straight-bat shots down the ground, never looked at his best but appeared Bradmanesque in comparison to his out-of-touch partner.

Vaughan's good fortune ran out after 42 balls with the score on 45 when a leg-side delivery from Heath Streak clipped the bottom of his thigh pad and somehow bounced back into the stumps.

Butcher, though, was the luckiest batsman on display as Zimbabwe's bowlers strayed in line and length.

Butcher began with two fine boundaries, a flick to leg off Blignaut and an on-drive off Douglas Hondo, before surviving a huge lbw shout off the same bowler.

Later, on 36, he snicked Streak to Ervine at second slip. Ervine, who had caught Trescothick there above his head, this time grassed the chance.

Nasser Hussain was the third England wicket to fall. Having made 19 in a third-wicket stand of 44 with Butcher, he mis-hooked Travis Friend's first ball to Douglas Hondo at fine leg and England were 165 for 3.

Rain had delayed the start by an hour and 20 minutes.

The home side selected left-arm spinner Ashley Giles after considering fielding an all-seam attack.

Zimbabwe went into the first match of the two-Test series with just four specialist batsmen.

Protestors opposed to President Robert Mugabe's government in Zimbabwe staged a rally outside the ground.