England clinch series win over Pakistan as Robinson dazzles

Joe Root’s second spell as England captain has begun in spectacular fashion, with his side cruising to a 194‑run victory over Pakistan at Lord's to clinch the series, moving 2‑0 ahead 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 final day, setting Pakistan an imposing target of 389 runs to win.

Mohammad Abbas was the standout for Pakistan on Sunday, ripping through England's lower order and claiming a five‑wicket haul as the hosts were dismissed for just 208 runs. However, the visitors could not chase down the deficit.

Ollie Robinson, back on his favourite ground at Lord's, was relentless, snaring four wickets on the day and taking his match tally to eight as England dismantled Pakistan’s batting line‑up. "I think the guys have shown great adaptability," Root said after the game.

"We overcame some tough situations when we were 80‑4 and still managed to post the total we did." England’s batting contributions were led by Dan Lawrence, who scored a tidy 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. The bowling figures read: Robinson 4‑14, Tongue 3‑46, Archer 2‑73 and Atkinson 0‑41.

For Pakistan, Shan Masood made 26 off 72, Awais 5 off 14, Shafique 0 off 13, Babar 6 off 8, Saud Shakeel 97 off 122 and Rizwan 1 off 9, with Abbas claiming 5‑22. Root praised the team’s maturity and problem‑solving ability. "It doesn’t always have to be the top order that scores the runs. I thought the way the guys played towards the back end was excellent.

If our tail‑enders can add 50‑80 runs, that can be the difference in a Test match." While England seemed poised to cruise to victory, Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel (97) displayed great resolve, counter‑attacking with 13 fours and two towering sixes, making life difficult for the English bowlers. His aggressive slog, however, ended abruptly when he edged a delivery from Josh Tongue to deep point, where Harry Brook was waiting to complete the catch.

Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 194. Robinson, who was named Player of the Match, struck in quick succession, dismissing Azan Awais (7) and Abdullah Shafique (0) in four balls, then later removing Mohammad Rizwan (1) and again Shafique (0). Jofra Archer also impressed, flashing his trademark pace to finish with 2‑73, while Tongue contributed 3‑46.

Robinson’s performance was historic. He had taken seven wickets in England’s loss to New Zealand at Lord's in June, and on Sunday he surpassed that haul, finishing with match figures of 8‑35 from 27 overs. Remarkably, this was the third consecutive Test in which the Sussex fast‑bowler earned the Player of the Match award, having done so in each of his first three Tests this summer.

Even as clouds gathered over the Home of Cricket on day four, Robinson extracted ample seam movement, cleaning up both Awais and Shafique in the same over. "The way we’ve operated with the ball has been excellent," Root observed. "We have great contrast and variety in our attack.

Ollie has been outstanding and is well complemented by three other 90‑mph bowlers who ask different questions." Archer’s early burst left Pakistan reeling at 3‑14, delivering a brutal bouncer to Babar Azam, who edged it to third slip where Jordan Cox took the catch. After a brief rain interruption, Shan Masood (26) and Shakeel built a solid fourth‑wicket partnership of 97 runs from 139 balls, showcasing aggressive stroke‑play before the rain halted proceedings.

When Pakistan reached 111 – a superstitious “Nelson” – Robinson appealed for a leg‑before‑wicket that was initially turned down. A review using Hawk‑Eye showed the ball had struck Masood’s leg stump, and the umpire’s decision was overturned, marking the third successful challenge of a Robinson delivery in the match.

Soon after, Robinson dismissed Rizwan (1) lbw, and Archer claimed Ali Usman (16). Josh Tongue wrapped up the final two wickets, removing Khurram Shahzad (9) and Mohammad Ali (8), sealing England’s triumph.

Imam‑ul‑Haq missed out on batting due to a calf injury. Earlier in the game, after a classy half‑century on day three, Dan Lawrence (54) returned to the crease with Robinson (8). Both were soon dismissed by Abbas, who had already taken three wickets on day three, including Emilio Gay (31), Harry Brook (34) and Jamie Smith (7). On day four, Abbas again struck, dismissing Lawrence’s leg stump with a sharp back‑of‑the‑hand delivery after Lawrence had reached his second fifty of the series.

Abbas’s emotional celebration after his fifth wicket highlighted his impact. Pakistan’s fielding had been under scrutiny throughout the series, yet captain Babar Azam set a positive example on Sunday, executing a spectacular direct hit from the covers to dismiss Josh Tongue (12).

The series now stands at 2‑0 to England, with the final Test scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 10, at 10:15 am on Sky Sports Cricket. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore the latest streaming deals or watch via the Sky Sports app. The victory not only underscores England’s depth in both batting and bowling but also cements Ollie Robinson’s status as a rising star in the Test arena.