Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer tore through Pakistan's batting line‑up, helping England build a commanding 261‑run lead on the second day of the second Test at Lord's. The English side displayed dominance with both ball and bat, beginning the day with a solid opening partnership between Josh Tongue, who remained not out on 30, and Gus Atkinson, who contributed a confident 45 runs.
The lower order quickly set the tone, adding a vital 47‑run stand that pushed England to a first‑innings total of 290. Once the hosts’ bowlers returned to the crease, they unleashed a ferocious spell that dismissed Pakistan for just 110 runs in 37.2 overs.
England’s four‑man pace brigade – Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson – ran rampant, delivering an hour of relentless, high‑quality bowling before the lunch break. Although they could have taken more wickets, Pakistan managed to reach 16 for 2 at the interval. Back on his familiar Lord's turf, Robinson, who claimed seven wickets against New Zealand at the same venue in June, was the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 4‑11. Archer, showcasing his trademark pace, added 3‑26, while Tongue also made an impact, removing both Abdullah Shafique (caught for 5) and Pakistan captain Babar Azam (out for 8) on either side of lunch.
Azan Awais proved the most resilient batsman for the visitors, scoring 46 runs off 102 balls before being caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a blistering Robinson bouncer. After tea, England’s batting faltered; Ben Duckett (1), Jordan Cox (11) and Joe Root (24) all fell within 17 overs, leaving England at 81‑3 when play was called off at 6:50 pm due to fading light. Emilio Gay (30 not out) and Harry Brook (7 not out) were set to resume on Saturday morning.
On Friday morning Pakistan struggled to make any headway against Tongue and Atkinson, a lapse that proved costly. Atkinson, after taking strike, hammered Ali Usman for four, only to be caught on the following ball at long‑off. Tongue’s batting was equally aggressive; he swept four boundaries and repeatedly targeted the gap between third slip and gully, unsettling the Pakistani field placements. The English bowlers had been expected to exploit the Lord's conditions, but they exceeded all forecasts, delivering a relentless, hour‑long spell before lunch.
It took four overs for England to claim their first wicket, with Archer sending down a scorching delivery that induced an edge from Shan Masood, caught behind by Smith. Smith, who had topped the scoring for England the previous day with 61, soon found himself back in the action when Tongue dismissed Shafique, leaving Pakistan at 2‑16 after 14.1 overs. After the break, England maintained the same intensity.
Tongue soon removed captain Babar Azam, and Robinson continued his magic on the Lord's pitch, dismissing Saud Shakeel (16) lbw after a review. Robinson also saw through a second review, trapping Mohammad Rizwan (7) lbw following a brief rain interruption. As clouds gathered over the historic ground, Robinson and Archer each claimed two more wickets. Archer dismissed Ali Usman (1), and Brook edged a Robinson delivery to the slips, sending Khurram Shazad (1) back to the pavilion.
Archer then rattled Mohammad Abbas (2) with a sharp ball to the stumps, sealing Pakistan’s innings, while Imam‑ul‑Haq was unable to bat due to a calf injury. England’s second innings got off to a shaky start. Duckett mishit a drive, offering a catch to Babar at mid‑off, and Cox fell lbw to a Pakistani bowler.
The fall of captain Joe Root for 24 came when a delivery, reminiscent of the one that dismissed Brook on Thursday, struck his front pad and was given out. Despite the precarious position, England’s lead remained substantial, putting pressure on the lower order. Harry Brook, after a review, overturned an lbw decision on his very first ball of the innings, showcasing his resilience. Emilio Gay proved a stalwart, battling the likes of Abbas and Ali to compile 30 runs from 69 balls, punctuated by six fours before play was again halted because of poor light.
Looking ahead, day three of the second Test will commence at 10:15 am on Saturday, with Sky Sports Cricket broadcasting live. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or consider streaming options that do not require a contract.
The match promises further drama as England seeks to extend their dominant position, while Pakistan aims to claw back into contention.