UPDATE 1-Cricket-Rain ruins third day of Lord's test

By John Mehaffey

LONDON, May 17 (Reuters) - Rain ruined the third day of the first test between England and New Zealand at Lord's on Saturday with only 8.5 overs possible during a frustrating day for players and spectators.

In that period, a 40-minute session before lunch, England took their overnight score of 68 for no wicket to 89 without loss in reply to New Zealand's first innings 277.

Alastair Cook, 43 not out overnight, added 10 runs for his 10th test half-century compiled from 79 balls with six fours. Andrew Strauss was on 31.

Play began 25 minutes late after morning drizzle and the players left the field shortly after midday when the rain returned.

The rain relented in the afternoon and the sun threatened to break through heavy clouds which have hung over Lord's since the test began on Thursday.

But two scheduled umpires' inspections were thwarted by increasingly heavy showers and those spectators who opted to remain in their seats rather than retreat to one of the bars watched the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City on the scoreboard screen.

In the abbreviated morning session, New Zealand opening bowlers Chris Martin and Kyle Mills bowled with controlled aggression after failing to make an impact on Friday.

Martin completed his ninth over from the Nursery End and Mills took up the attack from the Pavilion End.