Joe Root’s second spell as England captain has begun in spectacular fashion, with his side cruising to a 194‑run triumph over Pakistan at Lord's to clinch the series, moving ahead 2‑0 with one Test still to play. The match unfolded on a pitch that heavily favoured the bowlers, yet England managed to extend their lead by 32 runs on the fourth day, posting a daunting target of 389 for the visitors.
Mohammad Abbas was the standout bowler for Pakistan on Sunday, ripping through England's lower order and claiming five wickets as the hosts were dismissed for 208. However, the English bowlers responded in kind.
Ollie Robinson, back on his favourite ground at Lord's, ripped through the Pakistani batting line‑up, taking four wickets on the day and bringing his match tally to eight. His incisive spell helped England dismantle the opposition’s innings and secure the win. "The lads have shown great adaptability," Root said after the match. "We navigated some tricky moments when we were 80‑4 and still managed to post a respectable total." He added that the team’s maturity and problem‑solving mindset had been key, noting that contributions down the order can often decide a Test.
"If our tail‑enders can add 50 to 80 runs, that can be the difference," he said. England’s batting figures were solid: Dan Lawrence contributed 54 off 70 balls, while Robinson added a quick 8 off 15, Josh Tongue 12 off 15 and Jofra Archer 2 not out off 14. In the bowling department Robinson finished with 4‑14, Tongue 3‑46, Archer 2‑73 and Atkinson 0‑41. Pakistan’s top scores came from Shakiel (97 off 122) and Babar Azam (6 off 8), with Mohammad Abbas claiming 5‑22.
Saud Shakeel displayed considerable resolve, scoring 97 runs with 13 fours and two sixes, keeping Pakistan within touching distance. Yet his aggression backfired when he edged a delivery from Josh Tongue to deep point, where Harry Brook completed a clean catch. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 194, and Robinson earned Player of the Match honors, dismissing Azan Awais, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan and Shafique again in a devastating spell.
Jofra Archer also impressed, flashing his trademark pace to finish with figures of 2‑73, while Tongue added 3‑46. Robinson’s performance was particularly noteworthy; after taking seven wickets against New Zealand at Lord's in June, he surpassed that haul with match figures of 8‑35 from 27 overs, becoming the first bowler to claim the Player of the Match award in each of his three Test starts this summer.
Even as clouds gathered over the "Home of Cricket" on day four, Robinson extracted significant movement, removing both Awais and Shafique in the same over. Root praised the bowling unit, saying, "Our attack has great contrast and variety.
Ollie has been outstanding, and he’s supported by three other 90‑mph pacemen who ask different questions." Archer’s early burst saw Pakistan at 3‑14, with a brutal bouncer that forced Babar Azam into a wild edge caught by Jordan Cox at third slip. After a brief rain interruption, Shan Masood (26) and Shakiel forged a 97‑run partnership, showcasing aggressive stroke‑play before the innings stalled at 111 – a superstitious "Nelson" – when Robinson clipped a delivery onto his pad.
The umpire initially gave England away, but Root’s review, backed by Hawk‑Eye, showed the ball hitting Masood’s leg stump, overturning the decision. This marked the third successful challenge of an umpire’s call off a Robinson delivery in the match.
Robinson continued his dominance, trapping Rizwan lbw three overs later, while Archer dismissed Ali Usman. Tongue claimed the final two wickets, removing Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali, sealing England’s victory. Imam‑ul‑Haq missed the innings due to a calf injury.
Earlier in the game, after a superb half‑century on day three, Dan Lawrence (54) returned to the crease with Robinson (8) but both fell quickly to Abbas’s five‑wicket haul. Abbas also dismissed Emilio Gay, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith on day three, and on day four he again struck Lawrence’s leg stump with a sharp back‑of‑the‑hand delivery after Lawrence had reached his second fifty of the series. The emotional climax came when Abbas, after claiming his fifth wicket, dropped to the ground overwhelmed with joy.
Pakistan’s fielding had been under scrutiny throughout the series, yet their captain Babar Azam set a high standard on Sunday, executing a spectacular direct hit from the covers to dismiss Josh Tongue. Looking ahead, England will face Pakistan once more in the final Test, with day one scheduled for Thursday, September 10, at 10:15 am on Sky Sports Cricket.
Fans without Sky can explore streaming deals or the Sky Sports app to catch the action. The series has highlighted England’s resilience, depth in both batting and bowling, and the emergence of Ollie Robinson as a genuine match‑winning force.