Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer ripped through Pakistan's batting line‑up on the second day of the Lord's Test, helping England build a commanding 261‑run lead. The English side displayed dominance with both bat and ball, kicking off the day with a solid opening partnership between Josh Tongue (30 not out) and Gus Atkinson (45).
Their steady start set the platform for a day that would see England’s bowlers unleash a relentless assault. The lower order contributed early, adding a vital 47 runs that lifted England to a respectable first‑innings total of 290. Once the hosts’ fast‑bowling quartet returned to the crease, they put Pakistan under immediate pressure, skittling the visitors for just 110 runs in 37.2 overs. The four‑man pace attack – Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson – produced a ferocious spell before lunch, delivering an hour of almost unbroken aggression.
Although they could 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 in June, was the standout bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 4‑11. Archer, showcasing his trademark pace, followed with 3‑26, while Tongue also made his mark by dismissing both Abdullah Shafique (5) and captain Babar Azam (8) around the lunch break. Their combined effort left Pakistan reeling and highlighted England’s fire‑power on the historic ground.
Azan Awais proved the most resilient batsman for the tourists, top‑scoring with 46 off 102 balls before being caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a Robinson bouncer. The rest of the Pakistani line‑up struggled to negotiate the short‑run, high‑bounce conditions that England’s bowlers exploited so effectively. After tea, England’s batting faltered quickly.
Ben Duckett (1), Jordan Cox (11) and Joe Root (24) all fell within a 17‑over spell, leaving the home side at 81‑3 at the close of play. Gay (30 not out) and Harry Brook (7 not out) were set to resume their innings the following morning.
On Friday morning Pakistan found it difficult to break the opening partnership of Tongue and Atkinson. Atkinson, who saw limited action at the striker’s end, supported Tongue as the latter rotated the strike with confidence, accumulating singles, doubles and boundaries.
Together they added 42 runs, with Tongue displaying an aggressive sweep that produced four fours. Their approach forced Pakistan to rethink field placements, particularly the gap between third slip and gully, which Tongue targeted repeatedly. Around 11 am, Atkinson took the strike and struck Ali Usman for four, only to be caught on the next delivery at long‑off.
England’s bowlers continued to dominate, delivering an hour‑long spell before lunch that exceeded expectations for the Lord’s pitch. It took four overs for the first wicket, when Archer’s searing delivery induced an edge from Shan Masood (1), caught behind by Smith. Smith, who had top‑scored with 61 in the previous innings, returned to the action shortly after, only to be edged by Tongue’s delivery and dismissed, leaving Pakistan 2‑16 after 14.1 overs. The English side resumed after the break with the same intensity, and Tongue soon claimed the prized wicket of captain Babar Azam.
Robinson then worked his magic again, removing Saud Shakeel (16) lbw after a review. He also saw through a second review, trapping Mohammad Rizwan (7) lbw following a brief rain interruption. As clouds gathered over the "Home of Cricket," both Robinson and Archer each added two more wickets. Archer dismissed Usman (1) and later sent a cracking ball through Mohammad Abbas' (2) stumps, wrapping up Pakistan’s innings.
Imam‑ul‑Haq was unable to bat due to a calf injury. England’s second innings began poorly.
Duckett mishit a drive that resulted in a catch by Babar at mid‑off, while Cox was bowled lbw by a Pakistani bowler. The captain, Joe Root, fell for 24 after a delivery that mirrored the one that had dismissed Brook in the previous day’s innings, catching the edge on his front pad. Despite the setbacks, England maintained a substantial lead, applying pressure on the lower order. Brook overturned an lbw decision on his first ball after a review, while Gay displayed resilience, fighting off the attacks of Abbas and Ali to reach 30 runs off 69 balls, including six boundaries, before play was halted due to insufficient light.
Looking ahead, the third day of the second Test promises further action as England seeks to press its advantage and Pakistan attempts to claw back into the match. Fans can follow 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 Lord’s continues to deliver high‑octane cricket, showcasing the skill and determination of both sides as the series unfolds.