Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer tore through Pakistan's batting line‑up, helping England establish a commanding 261‑run lead on the second day of the Lord's second Test. The English side displayed dominance with both ball and bat, beginning the day with a solid partnership between Josh Tongue, who remained unbeaten on 30, and Gus Atkinson, who contributed a patient 45 runs. The lower order set the tone early, adding a crucial 47‑run stand that pushed England’s first‑innings total to 290. Once the hosts' fiery pace quartet returned to the crease, they swiftly dismantled Pakistan, bundling them out for just 110 runs in 37.2 overs.
The four‑man attack – Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson – delivered an unrelenting spell before lunch, a display of sheer speed and accuracy that left the visitors reeling. Although Pakistan managed to reach 16‑2 at the close of the session, the English bowlers could have claimed even more wickets. Robinson, who famously claimed seven wickets against New Zealand at Lord's earlier in June, was the standout bowler, finishing with an impressive 4‑11. Archer, renowned for his blistering pace, added 3‑26, while Tongue also made his mark, dismissing both Abdullah Shafique (caught for 5) and captain Babar Azam (out for 8) around the lunch break.
Azan Awais proved the most resilient batsman for Pakistan, top‑scoring with 46 runs off 102 balls before being caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a sharp Robinson bouncer. After the tea interval England lost wickets in quick succession – Ben Duckett (1), Jordan Cox (11) and Joe Root (24) fell within 17 overs – leaving the hosts at 81‑3 at stumps.
Gay (30 not out) and Harry Brook (7 not out) were set to resume on Saturday. When play resumed on Friday morning, Pakistan struggled to make any headway against Tongue and Atkinson, a failure that proved costly.
Atkinson, after taking strike, hammered Ali Usman for a boundary before being caught at long‑off on the following delivery. Tongue, meanwhile, displayed aggressive intent, sweeping four fours and probing the gap between third slip and gully, forcing the Pakistani fielders to rethink their placements. The English bowlers had been expected to exploit the Lord's conditions, but they exceeded expectations, delivering a relentless hour‑long spell before lunch.
It took four overs for England to claim their first wicket, 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 61, was soon back in action as Tongue produced a sharp ball that induced an edge from Shafique, leaving Pakistan precariously at 2‑16 after 14.1 overs.
After the break, the English attack maintained its intensity. Tongue captured the prized wicket of captain Babar Azam, while Robinson continued his spell‑binding work on the Lord's surface, dismissing Saud Shakeel (16) lbw after a review. Robinson also saw through a second review, trapping 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 dismissed Usman (1) and later sent Mohammad Abbas (2) back to the pavilion, while Brook edged a delivery from Robinson to claim Khurram Shazad (1). Earlier, Atkinson had taken the wicket of Azan, further tightening Pakistan’s collapse.
The second innings for England began poorly. Duckett mishit a drive that resulted in a catch at mid‑off, and Cox fell lbw to a Pakistani bowler. The English captain, Joe Root, was also dismissed for 24 after a delivery reminiscent of the one that had previously dismissed Brook, catching the edge on his front pad. Despite the shaky start, England’s lead remained imposing, placing immense pressure on the remaining Pakistani batsmen.
Harry Brook, who had previously overturned an lbw decision after a review, continued to bat confidently. He contributed a vital 30 runs off 69 balls, punctuated by six boundaries, before play was halted again due to fading light. His composure, along with Gay’s determined 30‑run knock, underscored England’s control of the match. Looking ahead, the third day of the second Test promises further action as England seeks to cement its dominance and push for a decisive victory.
Fans can follow the live coverage on Sky Sports Cricket starting at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, with streaming options available for those without a Sky subscription. The match remains a showcase of England’s potent pace attack and resilient batting, while Pakistan will need to regroup quickly if they hope to mount any comeback.