Pakistan’s seam attack proved decisive on a damp, overcast afternoon at Lord's, leaving England reeling at 248 for 9 by the close of day one in the second Test. After a heavy downpour forced a delayed start until 12:20 pm on Thursday, the hosts’ innings began under a bleak sky and a similarly bleak scoreboard, slipping to 3 for 36 after just 10.3 overs when Pakistan chose to bowl first following the toss.
The day’s narrative was further darkened by England’s off‑field distractions, notably the recent controversy surrounding bowler Brydon Carse. Captain Joe Root, already under pressure, was bowled by Mohammad Abbas for a meagre four runs, a dismissal that set the tone for the morning. The early damage continued as Abbas also trapped Ben Duckett for 17 and Emilio Gay for just eight, both victims of well‑timed deliveries that left the English side wobbling.
Abbas finished with impressive figures of 4‑56, while his fellow paceman Mohammad Ali contributed 3‑67, each producing three spectacular ‘nip‑back’ wickets that removed Harry Brook (15), Jamie Smith (61) and Ollie Robinson (0) in quick succession. The England batting summary read: Duckett 17 off 20 balls, Gay 8 off 17, Root 4 off 13, Cox 55 off 105, Brook 14 off 26, Smith 61 off 80. Pakistan’s bowling line‑up also featured Khurram Ahmed with 1‑79. Pakistan entered the match with captain Babar Azam back in the side, showing a marked improvement from their 103‑run loss at Headingley a week earlier.
Nevertheless, fielding lapses persisted; wicket‑keeper Mohammad Rizwan and his slip cordon were positioned too deep, allowing several catchable chances to slip through. As the clouds thinned and the light improved, England attempted a recovery. Jordan Cox steadied the ship with a patient 55, becoming the second English batsman to reach a half‑century after a lean spell for the wicket‑keeper‑batsman. Smith also crossed the fifty‑run mark, describing his innings to Sky Sports as a gradual finding of rhythm after an initial tentative start.
"I was trying to ride the wave a little bit," he said, noting that his usual aggressive tempo gave way to a more measured approach, which ultimately helped him settle. Gus Atkinson (34 not out) added useful runs before play was halted at 6:10 pm due to bad light, with the umpires opting not to resume. He, along with bowler Josh Tongue (1 not out), will return for Friday’s session. Abbas, who had managed only a single wicket at Headingley, was in prolific form on Thursday.
He first dismissed Gay with a sharp catch taken by Rizwan, who dived on the leg side to snatch an edge. Earlier, Duckett had edged a delivery to the slips in the opening over, but the ball fell short of the fielder. After 20 balls, Abbas finally trapped Duckett lbw; the on‑field decision was overturned after a review confirmed the ball had struck the stumps. Root’s brief stay at the crease ended when Abbas bowled a delivery that struck the leg stump, leaving the captain lbw.
Brook, eager to make an impact, smashed Ali for four on his first ball, only to be dismissed moments later when Ali’s delivery snapped back onto the off‑stump – a moment many described as the delivery of the day. At the lunch interval England were 80 for 4, prompting a partnership between Cox and Dan Lawrence that added 43 runs before Lawrence’s run‑out, which involved a confusing mix‑up.
Cox continued his assault, striking seven boundaries en route to his half‑century. Together with Smith, he forged a 67‑run stand off 97 balls, offering a glimpse of resilience. That partnership, however, was broken by Pakistan’s all‑rounder Salman Agha, who executed a spectacular one‑handed catch off an edge from Cox, diving mid‑air to complete the dismissal.
Following this, Ali claimed the wickets of both Smith and Robinson with two more nip‑backers in quick succession. The final wicket to fall was Archer, who managed a six into the Lord’s Pavilion before Abbas dismissed him, removing his bails as the day concluded. The match will resume on Friday, with live coverage on Sky Sports Cricket starting at 10:15 pm. Overall, the first day highlighted Pakistan’s ability to exploit English conditions with disciplined seam bowling, while England’s batting faltered under pressure and weather‑induced interruptions.
The next session promises a crucial test for both sides as England seeks to rebuild its innings and Pakistan aims to maintain its bowling dominance.