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 Lord's second Test. The English side displayed dominance with both ball and bat, beginning the day with a solid opening partnership between Josh Tongue, who remained unbeaten on 30, and Gus Atkinson, who contributed a steady 45 runs.
The lower order quickly added valuable runs, pushing England to a first‑innings total of 290 thanks to a 47‑run stand that set the tone for the rest of the day. When the hosts' pace quartet returned to the crease, they unleashed a ferocious spell that saw Pakistan bundled out for just 110 in 37.2 overs. The four‑man attack – Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson – delivered an unrelenting hour of fast bowling before lunch, constantly probing the Pakistani batsmen and forcing errors.
Although they might have taken more wickets, Pakistan managed to reach 16 for 2 at the end of the session. Robinson, who famously claimed seven wickets at Lord's against New Zealand earlier in June, was the standout bowler, finishing with an impressive 4‑11. Archer, renowned for his blistering pace, added 3‑26, while Tongue also made his mark by dismissing both Abdullah Shafique (caught for 5) and the Pakistani captain Babar Azam (caught for 8) on either side of the lunch break.
Azan Awais proved the most resilient batsman for the visitors, scoring a gritty 46 off 102 balls before being caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a sharp Robinson bouncer. After tea, England’s batting faltered; Ben Duckett fell for a single, Jordan Cox was out for 11, and Joe Root was dismissed for 24 within 17 overs, leaving England at 81 for 3 at stumps. Gay (30 not out) and Harry Brook (7 not out) were set to resume on Saturday morning. On Friday morning Pakistan struggled to make inroads against the English openers.
Atkinson, who faced limited deliveries, watched Tongue dominate with a mix of doubles, singles and boundaries, adding 42 runs together. Tongue’s batting was aggressive, hitting four fours and repeatedly targeting the gap between third slip and gully, prompting questions about Pakistan’s field placements. Around 11 am, Atkinson took the strike and hammered Ali Usman for a four, only to be caught on the next ball at long‑off. The English bowlers had been expected to exploit the Lord’s conditions, but they exceeded all expectations, delivering a relentless hour‑long spell before lunch.
It took four overs for England to claim their first wicket, with Archer sending a searing delivery that induced an edge from Shan Masood, who was caught behind by Smith. Smith, who had top‑scored with 61 in the previous innings, soon found himself back in action as Tongue produced a sharp delivery that forced Shafique to edge, leaving Pakistan 2‑16 after 14.1 overs.
After the break, England maintained their intensity. Tongue soon dismissed the Pakistani captain Babar Azam, while Robinson continued his spell‑binding work on the Lord’s pitch, removing Saud Shakeel (16) lbw after a review. Robinson also claimed Mohammad Rizwan (7) lbw following a brief rain interruption, overturning two crucial decisions in England’s favour.
As clouds gathered over the historic ground, Robinson and Archer each added two more wickets. Archer dismissed Ali Usman (1) and later Mohammad Abbas (2) by blasting a delivery that shattered the stumps. Brook contributed by edging Khurram Shazad (1) to the slips off Robinson’s bowling, after Azan had earlier been bowled by Atkinson. In England’s second innings, the start was shaky.
Duckett mishit a drive, resulting in a catch by Babar at mid‑off, while Cox was also dismissed lbw by a Pakistani bowler. The captain, Joe Root, fell for 24 when a delivery reminiscent of the one that had dismissed Brook on Thursday struck his front pad, resulting in an lbw.
Despite the precarious position, England’s lead remained substantial, putting pressure on the Pakistani side. Harry Brook, however, displayed resilience. After an initial lbw decision was overturned on review, he steadied the innings, scoring 30 runs off 69 balls with six boundaries, battling the likes of Abbas and Ali. His composure helped England retain their advantage until play was called off due to bad light.
Looking ahead, day three promises further action as England seeks to extend their lead and Pakistan aims to claw back into the match. Fans can catch the live coverage on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Saturday, with streaming options available for those without a Sky subscription. The contest at the Home of Cricket continues to deliver high‑octane fast bowling, strategic field placements, and moments of individual brilliance that keep the spirit of Test cricket alive.