Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer ripped through Pakistan's batting line‑up, helping England build a commanding 261‑run lead on the second day of the Lord's Test. The English side displayed dominance with both ball and bat, opening the day with the likes of Josh Tongue (30 not out) and Gus Atkinson (45) already at the crease, setting a solid platform for the innings. The lower order contributed early, adding a vital 47‑run partnership that pushed England’s first‑innings total to 290. Once the hosts' bowlers returned to the field, they unleashed a ferocious spell that saw Pakistan bundled out for just 110 runs in 37.2 overs.
England’s four‑man pace attack – Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson – ran rampant, delivering an hour‑long onslaught before lunch that, while devastating, left them a touch short of a larger wicket haul as Pakistan reached the pavilion at 16‑2. Robinson, who famously claimed seven wickets at Lord's against New Zealand in June, was the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 4‑11. Archer, showcasing his raw pace, added 3‑26, while Tongue also made his mark, dismissing both Abdullah Shafique (caught for 5) and Pakistan captain Babar Azam (caught for 8) around the lunch break. Azan Awais proved the most resilient batsman for the visitors, scoring a gritty 46 from 102 balls before being caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a Robinson bouncer.
After tea, England’s batting faltered quickly; Ben Duckett (1), Jordan Cox (11) and Joe Root (24) fell within 17 overs, leaving the home side at 81‑3 at stumps. Gay (30 not out) and Harry Brook (7 not out) were slated to resume on Saturday morning.
When play resumed on Friday, Pakistan struggled to make inroads against Tongue and Atkinson. Atkinson, taking the strike, hammered Ali Usman for four, only to be caught on the next ball at long‑off. Tongue’s batting was equally aggressive, sweeping four boundaries and exploiting a gap between third slip and gully, while Atkinson added quick runs to lift the partnership by 42 runs.
The English bowlers exceeded expectations on the second day, delivering an almost relentless hour‑long spell before lunch. It took four overs for the first wicket, with Archer sending a searing delivery that induced an edge from Shan Masood, caught behind by Smith. Smith, who had top‑scored for England with 61 the previous day, returned to the crease only to be dismissed by Tongue, who trapped Shafique behind, leaving Pakistan 2‑16 after 14.1 overs.
After the break, England maintained their intensity. Tongue claimed the prized wicket of captain Babar Azam, while Robinson continued his mastery of the Lord's surface, dismissing Saud Shakeel (16) lbw after a review. Robinson also saw Mohammad Rizwan (7) depart lbw following a brief rain interruption, overturning a decision in England’s favour. As clouds gathered over the historic ground, Robinson and Archer each added two more wickets.
Archer removed Ali Usman (1) and later struck Mohammad Abbas (2) clean‑bowled. Brook contributed by edging Khurram Shazad (1) to the slips off Robinson, after a prior dismissal of Azan earlier in the day by Atkinson.
The innings concluded with Archer clean‑bowling Imam‑ul‑Haq, who was unable to bat due to a calf injury. England’s second innings began poorly. Duckett mishit a drive that resulted in a catch at mid‑off, while Cox fell lbw to a Pakistani bowler. The hosts then lost their captain, Joe Root, for 24, trapped by a delivery reminiscent of Archer’s earlier thunderbolt that had dismissed Brook on Thursday.
Despite the setbacks, England retained a massive lead, applying pressure on the lower order. Harry Brook displayed resilience, overturning an lbw decision after a review on his very first ball. Emilio Gay, meanwhile, fought back against the Pakistani bowlers Abbas and Ali, compiling a steady 30 runs off 69 balls, punctuated by six fours before play was halted again due to insufficient light.
The match narrative underscores England’s dominance with both seam and swing, the potency of their pace quartet, and the way they capitalised on early batting contributions to build an unassailable lead. The combination of aggressive batting from Tongue and Atkinson, coupled with the lethal spell of Robinson and Archer, left Pakistan with little chance to recover.
As the series moves into its third day, England will look to consolidate their advantage, while Pakistan will need to regroup and find ways to counter the relentless English attack.