Pakistan’s seam attack proved decisive on a damp and grey Thursday at Lord's, restricting England to 248 for 9 on the first day of the second Test. The two left‑arm pacemen, Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali, extracted movement from the cloud‑laden air and turned the pitch into a bowler’s paradise, while England’s top order faltered under the relentless pressure. Rain delayed the start of play until just after midday, and the damp conditions immediately took their toll.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl, Pakistan struck early, bundling England out for a precarious 36 runs after just ten and a third overs. The early collapse set the tone for a day in which the hosts never really found their footing. Captain Joe Root, still reeling from the off‑field controversy surrounding teammate Brydon Carse, could not muster a substantial contribution.
He fell to Abbas for a meagre four runs, a dismissal that was soon followed by cheap wickets of Ben Duckett (17) and Emilio Gay (8), both also caught by Abbas. Abbas finished with impressive figures of four for 56, while Ali added three for 67, including two spectacular ‘nip‑back’ dismissals that removed Harry Brook (15) and the in‑form Jamie Smith (61) as well as a duck for Ollie Robinson. England’s innings saw a brief resurgence when Jordan Cox, the left‑handed opener, steadied the ship with a composed 55 off 105 balls, and Smith managed to reach his half‑century after a lean spell for the wicket‑keeper‑batsman.
Yet the damage had already been done, and the hosts were forced to bat out the remainder of the day under fading light, which ultimately led to play being called off at 6:10 pm. Pakistan’s fielding, however, left something to be desired. Wicket‑keeper Mohammad Rizwan and his slip cordon were positioned too deep, allowing several catching opportunities to slip away. Despite this, the bowlers’ dominance more than compensated for the occasional lapse in the field.
The day’s action was punctuated by several notable moments. After a close early chance when Duckett edged a delivery that fell short of the slips, Abbas finally trapped him lbw after a review confirmed the ball had hit the stumps. Root’s dismissal came shortly thereafter; a well‑timed delivery from Abbas struck the leg stump, leaving the captain unable to defend his wicket. Brook’s brief cameo saw him launch Ali for a four through square leg on his first ball, only to be clean bowled by Ali on the next delivery – a delivery many commentators dubbed the ball of the day.
At the lunch interval England were 80 for 4, and a partnership between Cox and Dan Lawrence added a much‑needed 43 runs before Lawrence’s run‑out in a bizarre mix‑up. Cox, who struck seven boundaries, went on to reach his fifty, while Smith and Cox later forged a partnership of 67 runs off 97 balls, providing a glimpse of resilience amid the collapse. The partnership was eventually broken by Pakistan all‑rounder Salman Agha, who dove spectacularly to claim a one‑handed catch off a edged delivery from Cox. Soon after, Ali claimed two quick wickets – those of Smith and Robinson – with back‑handed deliveries that bounced off the pads and onto the stumps, further denting England’s hopes.
The final wicket fell when Archer, the last man out, lofted a six into the Lord’s Pavilion before Abbas dismissed him, removing his bails as the players prepared to leave the field. Overall, the first day highlighted Pakistan’s improved performance since their heavy defeat at Headingley a week earlier, particularly with captain Babar Azam back in the side. Their bowlers capitalised on the overcast conditions, while England’s batting struggled to adapt to the swing and seam. The hosts will need to regroup and find stability in their middle order if they hope to mount a comeback in the remaining days of the Test.
Looking ahead, England will aim to rebuild their innings on day two, with the hope that the weather improves and the pitch settles. Meanwhile, Pakistan will look to maintain pressure with their disciplined bowling unit, hoping to force another collapse and gain a commanding lead in the series.