Pakistan’s seam attack proved decisive on a damp, overcast afternoon at Lord's, restricting England to 248 for nine on the first day of the second Test. The match began under a heavy sky, with rain delaying the start until 12:20 pm on Thursday.
When play finally resumed, the hosts stumbled, slipping to 3 for 36 after just ten and a half overs following Pakistan’s decision to bowl first. The early wickets came courtesy of Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali, who exploited the swinging conditions with precision. Abbas, in particular, was relentless, dismissing England’s top order with a combination of pace and movement.
He first removed Ben Duckett, who had managed 17 runs from 20 balls, then trapped Emilio Gay for just eight, and finally sent captain Joe Root back to the pavilion for a meagre four. Abbas finished with impressive figures of four for 56, while Ali contributed three for 67, including two sharp back‑of‑the‑hand catches that removed Harry Brook and Jamie Smith, and a clean bowled of Ollie Robinson. England’s innings was a tale of two halves.
The early collapse was followed by a modest recovery anchored by Jordan Cox, who compiled a patient 55 off 105 deliveries, and a gritty 61 from Jamie Smith, who reached his half‑century after a lean spell for the wicket‑keeper‑batsman. Their partnership of 67 runs over 97 balls provided a brief respite before Pakistan’s fielders, particularly Mohammad Rizwan, produced a spectacular one‑handed catch to dismiss Cox, ending the stand.
Despite the effort, England could not overcome the early damage and were bowled out for 248. Pakistan, fielding a side that included captain Babar Azam back in the lineup, showed marked improvement from their 103‑run loss at Headingley the previous week.
Their bowling unit, led by Abbas and Ali, combined swing, seam and disciplined lines to keep the English batsmen in check. However, the visitors’ fielding still left something to be desired; Rizwan and the slip cordon were positioned too deep, allowing several catchable chances to slip through.
The day’s play was interrupted twice. After a rain‑induced delay at the start, the umpires called off play at 6:10 pm due to bad light, opting not to resume as darkness fell. The suspension gave both teams a chance to regroup, and the weather gradually improved, allowing the second day to begin under clearer skies. Key moments of the first day included: - Abbas’s lbw dismissal of Duckett after a review confirmed the ball had hit the stumps, overturning the on‑field not‑out decision.
- Root’s early dismissal, caught behind by third slip Imam‑ul‑Haq before being dropped by Usman Khawaja, followed by an lbw to Abbas. - Brook’s aggressive start, hitting Ali for four on his first ball, only to be clean bowled by a delivery that struck his off‑stump – a moment many commentators called the delivery of the day. - A bizarre run‑out of Dan Lawrence after a mix‑up with his partner, which further destabilised England’s middle order. - Salman Agha’s spectacular one‑handed catch off Cox’s edge, a highlight that broke the partnership between Cox and Smith.
- Ali’s double nip‑backers that removed both Smith and Robinson in quick succession, showcasing his skill in extracting late movement. - Archer’s final wicket, a six into the Lord’s Pavilion followed by an immediate dismissal by Abbas, sealing England’s innings.
Beyond the statistics, the match illustrated the impact of English weather on cricket. The overcast conditions amplified swing, a factor that Pakistan’s bowlers harnessed expertly. England’s top order, accustomed to more benign conditions, struggled to adjust, resulting in a cascade of early wickets. Looking ahead, Pakistan will aim to capitalize on the momentum generated by their bowlers, while England must rebuild their batting confidence.
The hosts will rely on the experience of players like Cox and Smith to provide stability, and they will hope the weather clears further to allow a full day of play. For Pakistan, maintaining tight lines and exploiting any lingering seam movement will be crucial, as will improving their fielding positions to convert more chances into wickets. Fans can continue to follow the series via Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming available on the NOW platform. The next day’s action is scheduled to begin at 10:15 pm on Friday, offering another opportunity for both sides to swing the pendulum in their favour.