Nightwatchman Jack Leach fell eight runs short of an unlikely century as England clawed their way back into contention against Ireland on a finely poised second afternoon at the Specsavers Test.
England began with a first-innings deficit of 122 after their derisory 85 all out on the first morning, but Leach's improbable assured knock of 92 led the fightback at Lord's.
Jason Roy also made a promising 72 on debut, turning the tide in a stand of 145 with Leach, as the hosts took tea 87 ahead on 209 for five.
England moved ahead for the first time in the match in the opening over of the afternoon session, Roy whipping Rankin to midwicket, but Leach was about to start dominating proceedings.
He was badly dropped on 72, Rankin drawing the error and Wilson inexplicably allowing the ball to spill out of both gloves. Emboldened, he went on the attack.
There was an uppish cut over backward point, a lob that evaded mid-off and a punched drive that skimmed to the ropes. One misfield at cover later and he had eclipsed the entire team's miserable day one total.
Roy attempted to reassert himself on proceedings with a booming drive at Thompson but paid with his stumps to end a promising outing in grisly fashion.
The stars looked to be aligning when Leach fenced Murtagh to second slip and was grassed by Mark Adair, but when the veteran seamer created a replica chance three balls later the catch was taken.
Ireland grasped the chance to make the game see-saw again, nipping out two more before tea.
Joe Denly was run out for 10 after a bad mix-up with Joe Root, while Jonny Bairstow bagged his second duck of the match, a tight lbw after a working over from Adair.
