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. England’s bowlers were the star performers with both ball and bat, opening the day with Josh Tongue (30 not out) and Gus Atkinson (45) already at the crease.
The lower order made an early impact, steering England to a first‑innings total of 290 thanks to a 47‑run partnership. That platform allowed the home side’s fast‑bowling unit to unleash a devastating spell that bundled Pakistan out for just 110 runs in 37.2 overs.
Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson formed a four‑man pace barrage that rattled the visitors before lunch, delivering an hour of relentless, high‑quality bowling. Although they could have taken more wickets, Pakistan managed to reach 16 for 2 at the tea break. Back on his familiar Lord's turf, Robinson, who claimed seven wickets against New Zealand earlier in the season, was the most effective of the English attack, returning figures of 4‑11.
Archer, showcasing his thunderous speed, added 3‑26, while Tongue also made his mark by dismissing both Abdullah Shafique (5) and captain Babar Azam (8) on either side of the lunch interval. Azan Awais proved the toughest wicket for England, top‑scoring for Pakistan with 46 runs off 102 balls before being caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a Robinson bouncer.
The visitors struggled to break the partnership of Tongue and Atkinson on Friday morning, a lapse that proved costly. Atkinson, after taking strike, hammered Ali Usman for a boundary and then attempted a second hit that resulted in a long‑off catch.
Meanwhile, Tongue displayed aggressive batting, sweeping four boundaries and exploiting a gap between third slip and gully, prompting questions about Pakistan’s field placement. England’s bowlers were expected to exploit the Lord's conditions, but they surpassed expectations on Friday, delivering an hour‑long, relentless spell before lunch. It took four overs for the first wicket to fall, with Archer sending a searing delivery that forced Shan Masood (1) to edge behind to Smith. Smith, who had topped the scores for England the previous day with a 61, returned to the action shortly thereafter, only to be edged by Tongue to Shafique, leaving Pakistan 2‑16 after 14.1 overs.
After the break, England maintained their intensity. Tongue claimed the vital wicket of captain Babar Azam, while Robinson continued his spellbinding work on the Lord's pitch, dismissing Saud Shakeel (16) lbw after a review. Robinson also overturned a decision to trap Mohammad Rizwan (7) lbw following a brief rain interruption. As clouds gathered over the "Home of Cricket," Robinson and Archer each added two more wickets.
Archer removed Usman (1) and later struck Mohammad Abbas (2) clean bowled, wrapping up Pakistan’s innings. Imam‑ul‑Haq was unable to bat due to a calf injury, further weakening the Pakistani side.
England’s second innings began poorly. Ben Duckett mis‑timed a drive, offering a catch to Babar at mid‑off, and Jordan Cox was also dismissed lbw by a Pakistani bowler. The host side then lost their captain, Joe Root, for 24 as a delivery reminiscent of Archer’s earlier strike on Thursday jagged back onto Root’s front pad. Despite the shaky start, England’s lead remained substantial, putting pressure on the lower order of Brook and Gay.
Brook successfully challenged an lbw call after a review on his very first ball. Gay, meanwhile, displayed resilience, countering the attacks of Abbas and Ali to reach 30 runs off 69 balls, including six boundaries, before play was halted due to bad light. Looking ahead, day three of the second Test will commence at 10:15 am on Saturday, with England aiming to extend their dominant position.
The match will be streamed live on Sky Sports Cricket for subscribers, and non‑subscribers can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or contract‑free streaming options. The narrative of this series continues to evolve, with England’s pace quartet—Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson—setting a high bar for Pakistan’s batting resilience as the contest moves into its decisive phase.