Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer ripped through Pakistan's batting line‑up, helping England build a commanding 261‑run lead on the second day of the Lord's Test. The English side displayed dominance with both ball and bat, beginning the day with lower‑order batsmen Josh Tongue (30 not out) and Gus Atkinson (45) at the crease, who steadied the innings after early wickets fell. The tail‑enders set the tone early, contributing a vital 47‑run partnership that pushed England to a first‑innings total of 290.
Once the hosts' bowlers returned to the field, they unleashed a ferocious spell that bundled Pakistan out for just 110 runs in 37.2 overs. England's four‑man pace attack – Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson – was relentless, delivering an hour of near‑perfect bowling before lunch. Although they could have taken more wickets, Pakistan managed to reach 16 for 2 at the tea interval.
Back on his familiar Lord's turf, Robinson, who claimed seven wickets against New Zealand earlier in the season, emerged as the standout bowler, finishing with figures of 4‑11. Archer, famed for his thunderous pace, added 3‑26, while Tongue also made an impact, dismissing both Abdullah Shafique (caught for 5) and Pakistan captain Babar Azam (caught for 8) around the lunch break. Azan Awais was the top scorer for the visitors, proving difficult to dislodge with a gritty 46 from 102 balls before being caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a Robinson bouncer.
After tea, England lost wickets in quick succession – Ben Duckett (1), Jordan Cox (11) and Joe Root (24) all fell within 17 overs, leaving the home side at 81‑3 when play was halted at 6.50 pm due to bad light. Gay (30 not out) and Harry Brook (7 not out) were set to resume on Saturday morning. On Friday morning Pakistan struggled to break the opening partnership of Tongue and Atkinson, a lapse that proved costly.
Atkinson, taking the strike, struck a four off Ali Usman and was soon caught at long‑off. Tongue, meanwhile, swept four boundaries and consistently found gaps between the third slip and gully, frustrating the Pakistani field placement. England’s bowlers were expected to exploit the Lord's conditions, but they exceeded all forecasts, delivering an hour‑long, unyielding spell before lunch.
It took four overs for the first wicket, with Archer sending a searing delivery that induced an edge from Shan Masood, who was caught behind by Smith. Smith, who had top‑scored with 61 in the previous innings, soon returned to the attack, only to see Tongue trap Shafique behind, leaving Pakistan 2‑16 after 14.1 overs. After the break, the English side maintained its intensity. Tongue claimed the crucial wicket of captain Babar Azam, while Robinson once again worked his magic, dismissing Saud Shakeel (16) lbw after a review.
Robinson also saw his second review succeed, 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 Mohammad Abbas (2) by striking the stumps, while Brook edged a slip catch off Robinson to remove Khurram Shazad (1).
Earlier, Atkinson had bowled Azan Awais, further tightening Pakistan’s collapse. In England’s second innings, the start was shaky. Duckett mishit a drive that resulted in a catch by Babar at mid‑off, and Cox fell lbw to a Pakistani bowler.
The captain, Joe Root, was also dismissed for 24, falling to a delivery reminiscent of the one that had previously removed Brook, this time catching the edge on his front pad. Despite the solid lead, England faced fresh pressure as Brook overturned an lbw decision on his first ball of the innings after a review, while Gay displayed resilience, battling the spin of Abbas and the pace of Ali to reach 30 runs off 69 balls, including six fours, before play was again suspended due to insufficient light.
The match will continue on Saturday, with day three slated to begin at 10.15 am on Sky Sports Cricket. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore the latest streaming deals or consider a no‑contract option to watch the remainder of the second Test between England and Pakistan.