Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali were the standout bowlers for Pakistan on the first day of the second Test at Lord's, exploiting the damp, overcast weather to put England under pressure and finish the innings at 248 for 9. The day began with a heavy downpour that delayed the start of play until 12:20 pm on Thursday. When the sun finally broke through, the English side found themselves in a bleak situation, sliding to 3 for 36 after just 10.3 overs following Pakistan’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss.
The atmosphere was tense, not only because of the weather but also due to the lingering fallout from England’s recent off‑field controversy involving bowler Brydon Carse. Captain Joe Root, still under a cloud of distraction, was the first wicket to fall, caught by Abbas for a modest four runs. The early blow was compounded by quick dismissals of Ben Duckett (17) and Emilio Gay (8), both victims of Abbas’s sharp swing.
Abbas finished with impressive figures of four wickets for 56 runs, while Ali contributed three for 67. Their spell produced three spectacular ‘nip‑backers’ – deliveries that snapped back sharply after pitching – which removed Harry Brook (15), Jamie Smith (61) and left Ollie Robinson without scoring. The England batting summary read: Duckett 17 off 20 balls, Gay 8 off 17, Root 4 off 13, Cox 55 off 105, Brook 14 off 26, Smith 61 off 80.
Pakistan’s bowling line‑up was rounded out by Khurram Shahzad, who took 1 for 79. Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam returned to the side, and the team showed a marked improvement from the 103‑run loss at Headingley the previous week. Nevertheless, their fielding remained a concern. Wicket‑keeper Mohammad Rizwan and the slip cordon were positioned too deep, allowing several catchable chances to fall short, a weakness that England tried to exploit throughout the day.
As the afternoon progressed and the clouds thinned, England began to recover. Jordan Cox steadied the innings with a gritty 55, becoming the second English player to reach a half‑century after Smith’s 61.
Their partnership, built on patient shot selection and a few well‑timed boundaries, gave England a fighting chance after a difficult start. "I was trying to ride the wave a little bit," Smith explained to Sky Sports.
"It isn’t always free‑scoring here – you can feel a bit out of rhythm, but then you catch up. I felt I was just scraping around at the start, but once I found the middle of the bat, it felt different to my usual top‑tempo approach.
That seemed to help today." Gus Atkinson, who did not bat on day one, and bowler Josh Tongue were scheduled to return on Friday morning after play was called off at 6:10 pm due to bad light. The umpires decided not to resume, leaving the day’s final figures unchanged.
Abbas, who had managed only a single wicket at Headingley, was in prolific form on Thursday. He first dismissed Gay with the assistance of Rizwan, who dived on the leg side to take a gloved edge.
Earlier, Duckett had edged a delivery to the slips in the very first over, but the ball fell short of the fielder’s reach. After 20 balls, Abbas finally trapped Duckett lbw. The on‑field umpire initially gave the batsman not out, believing the ball had missed the stumps, but a review confirmed the dismissal and Abbas’s confidence was vindicated. Root’s innings was brief.
After surviving an early edge that was caught at third slip by Imam‑ul‑Haq, he was bowled lbw by a ball that struck his leg stump, as he failed to get his bat in line. Brook arrived next, aggressively hitting Ali for a four through square leg on his first delivery, but his aggression was short‑lived. Ali produced a delivery that clipped Brook’s off‑stump – a moment many commentators later described as the delivery of the day – and Brook was out.
At the lunch break England were 80 for 4, needing stability. A partnership of 43 runs between Cox and Dan Lawrence provided that, although Lawrence was later run out after a confusing mix‑up. Cox went on to strike seven boundaries en route to his fifty, and together with Smith they added a 67‑run stand off 97 balls, showcasing a blend of defensive technique and attacking intent.
The partnership was broken when Pakistan’s all‑rounder Salman Agha dived spectacularly to complete a one‑handed catch off Cox’s edge, a highlight that shifted momentum back to the visitors. Ali then claimed the wickets of Smith and Ollie Robinson in quick succession with two more of his signature nip‑backers, delivering a dramatic spell. The final English wicket fell to Abbas, who dismissed Archer after the latter had lofted a six into the Lord’s Pavilion.
Abbas then removed the bails as the players left the field, concluding a day where Pakistan’s seamers dictated terms. Looking ahead, the second day of the Test will resume on Friday evening, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 pm. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore the latest streaming deals or consider a Sky Sports app download to stay updated on the unfolding series. Overall, the first day highlighted Pakistan’s ability to swing the ball in English conditions and England’s resilience in the face of early setbacks.
The match remains finely balanced, and the next session promises further intrigue as both sides adjust tactics and seek to capitalize on the opportunities presented by the ever‑changing weather at the historic Lord’s ground.