On the second day of the Lord's second Test, England surged ahead with a commanding 261-run lead, thanks largely to the relentless spell of fast bowlers Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer. The visitors from Pakistan struggled to cope with the pace and accuracy of the English attack, which dismantled their batting line‑up and kept the pressure high throughout the session. The day began with England’s lower order already at the crease after a modest first‑innings total of 290. Josh Tongue (30 not out) and Gus Atkinson (45) were on strike, providing a steady platform for the hosts.
Their partnership of 47 runs set the tone for what would become a dominant display by the English bowlers once the opposition took to the field. Pakistan’s innings collapsed quickly. The four‑man pace quartet – Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson – unleashed a ferocious hour‑long spell before the lunch break, forcing the visitors into a precarious 16‑2 position.
Although the English side could have taken more wickets, the early breakthroughs were enough to keep Pakistan on the back foot. Robinson, who had already claimed seven wickets at Lord's earlier in the season against New Zealand, proved once again why he is a potent weapon on this ground, finishing the spell with figures of 4‑11. Archer complemented him with 3‑26, showcasing his trademark speed and movement.
The Pakistani top‑order tried to resist. Azan Awais, the highest scorer for the visitors, managed 46 runs off 102 balls, but his effort was halted when he was caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a sharp Robinson bouncer.
The rest of the batting order could not build any meaningful partnerships, and Pakistan were bundled out for just 110 runs in 37.2 overs. After tea, England’s batting faltered. Ben Duckett fell for a single, Jordan Cox made 11, and Joe Root was dismissed for 24, all within the first 17 overs of the session. Play was eventually called off at 6:50 pm due to fading light, leaving England at 81‑3 at the close of day two.
Gay (30 not out) and Harry Brook (7 not out) were set to resume their innings the following morning. Friday’s morning session saw Pakistan’s bowlers struggle to make inroads against Tongue and Atkinson, who capitalised on the loose deliveries to rotate the strike and find boundaries.
Tongue, in particular, displayed an aggressive approach, sweeping four fours and targeting the gap between the third slip and gully. Atkinson, on his turn at the crease, struck Ali Usman for a four before being caught at long‑off on the next ball. The English bowlers continued to dominate. It took four overs for the first wicket, but once Archer sent a searing delivery at Shan Masood, the Pakistani top order began to crumble.
Smith, who had top‑scored for England in the previous innings with 61, was soon back in the action as Tongue induced an edge from Abdullah Shafique, leaving Pakistan at 2‑16 after 14.1 overs. The pressure intensified when Tongue dismissed captain Babar Azam, and Robinson soon followed with the dismissal of Saud Shakeel (lbw after a review). A second review saw Robinson claim Mohammad Rizwan (lbw) as well, underlining his knack for exploiting the Lord’s conditions. As clouds gathered over the historic ground, both Robinson and Archer each added two more wickets.
Archer removed Ali Usman, and Brook caught Khurram Shazad off Robinson’s bowling after a earlier dismissal of Azan Awais by Atkinson. Archer then bowled Mohammad Abbas, sealing Pakistan’s innings, while Imam‑ul‑Haq could not bat due to a calf injury.
England’s second innings began poorly. Duckett mishit a drive that resulted in a catch for Babar at mid‑off, and Cox fell to an lbw decision from a Pakistani bowler. The loss of captain Joe Root for 24 added to England’s woes, as a delivery reminiscent of the one that had dismissed Brook on Thursday struck Root’s pad and resulted in an lbw. Despite the setbacks, the English side maintained its substantial lead, applying pressure on the lower order.
Harry Brook, however, turned the tide with a resilient knock. After an initial lbw review was overturned in his favour, he steadied the innings, countering the attacks of Abbas and Ali. Meanwhile, Emilio Gay displayed remarkable composure, scoring 30 runs off 69 balls, punctuated by six boundaries, before play was again suspended because of bad light. Looking ahead, England will aim to extend their advantage on day three, with Brook and Gay set to continue their partnership.
Pakistan, on the other hand, will need to regroup and find a way to counter the relentless English pace attack if they hope to stay in the contest. The upcoming session promises further excitement, with the possibility of more wickets, strategic batting, and the ever‑present drama that comes with Test cricket at the Home of the Game.