Joe Root’s second spell as England captain has begun in spectacular fashion, as his side comfortably secured a 194‑run victory over Pakistan at Lord's, sealing the series with a 2‑0 lead and one Test still to play. The match unfolded on a bowler‑friendly surface, yet England managed to extend their advantage by 32 runs on the final day, setting a daunting target of 389 for the visitors. Mohammad Abbas was the standout bowler for Pakistan on Sunday, ripping through England’s lower order and claiming five wickets as the home side were dismissed for just 208 runs.
However, the English attack, led by the ever‑reliable Ollie Robinson, proved too potent for the touring side. Robinson, back in his familiar surroundings at Lord's, took four wickets on the day, bringing his match tally to eight and dismantling Pakistan’s batting line‑up with relentless accuracy.
Root praised his team’s adaptability after the win. "The lads have shown great adaptability.
We navigated some tough situations when we were 80‑4 and still managed to post a respectable total," he said. He added that the lower order’s contribution was crucial: "We displayed maturity and problem‑solving. It doesn’t always have to be the top order that scores the runs.
If our tail can add 50‑80 runs, that can be the difference in a Test." England’s batting effort was anchored by Dan Lawrence’s 54 off 70 balls, while Robinson contributed a quick eight runs from 15 deliveries. The bowlers also chipped in with useful runs: Josh Tongue added 12 off 15, and Jofra Archer scored a brisk two not out off 14. In the bowling department, Robinson’s figures of 4‑14, Tongue’s 3‑46, Archer’s 2‑73 and Atkinson’s 0‑41 helped restrict Pakistan to 194 all out. Saud Shakeel, who fell just short of a century with 97, fought valiantly for Pakistan, striking 13 fours and two sixes.
His innings provided a brief glimmer of hope, but a decisive moment came when he attempted a powerful slog, only to be caught at deep point by Harry Brook after a mis‑hit that sent the ball to the boundary. Robinson earned the Player of the Match award, taking the wickets of Azan Awais, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan and again Shafique in quick succession, a spell that turned the game decisively in England’s favour.
Jofra Archer also impressed with his blistering pace, finishing with figures of 2‑73, while Tongue claimed three wickets for 46 runs. Robinson’s performance was particularly noteworthy given his recent form. 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 – a remarkable achievement for a bowler who has now been named Player of the Match in each of his three Test starts this summer. Even as clouds gathered over the historic ground, Robinson extracted movement from the pitch, dismissing both Awais and Shafique in the same over.
Root highlighted the variety in England’s attack: "The way we’ve operated with the ball has been excellent. 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 was also decisive; he rattled Pakistan at 3‑14 with a fierce bouncer that forced Babar Azam into an edge caught by Jordan Cox at third slip.
After a brief rain interruption, Pakistan’s Shan Masood (26) and Saud Shakeel built a fourth‑wicket partnership of 97 runs from 139 balls, showcasing aggressive stroke‑play before the rain halted play. When play resumed, England appealed for an LBW against Masood, which was initially turned down.
However, a review using Hawk‑Eye showed the ball had struck Masood’s leg stump, overturning the umpire’s decision – the third successful review of a Robinson dismissal in the match. Shortly after, Robinson dismissed Rizwan lbw, and Archer removed Ali Usman, further tightening England’s grip. Josh Tongue claimed the final two wickets, sending home Khurram Shahzad (9) and Mohammad Ali (8), sealing England’s victory.
Pakistan’s opener Imam‑ul‑Haq was unable to bat due to a calf injury. Earlier in the match, after a solid half‑century from Dan Lawrence on day three, both Lawrence and Robinson were quickly dismissed by Abbas’s five‑wicket haul. Abbas also removed Emilio Gay, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith on day three, and continued his impact on day four by taking Lawrence’s leg stump with a sharp back‑of‑the‑hand delivery after Lawrence had reached his second fifty of the series. The emotional climax came when Abbas, after claiming his fifth wicket, fell to the ground overwhelmed with joy, celebrating his milestone.
Pakistan’s fielding had been under scrutiny throughout the series, yet captain Babar Azam delivered a spectacular direct hit from the covers to dismiss Josh Tongue, demonstrating that the hosts still possessed moments of brilliance. Looking ahead, England will face Pakistan in the final Test of the series, with day one scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 10, at 10:15 am on Sky Sports Cricket. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore streaming options or the latest Sky Sports deals to catch the action live.