Pakistan’s seam attack proved decisive on a damp, overcast afternoon at Lord's, limiting England to a modest 248 for nine on the first day of the second Test. The day began under a grey sky, with rain delaying the start of play until 12:20 p.m. on Thursday.
When the toss was taken, Pakistan elected to bowl, and the hosts quickly found themselves in trouble, sliding to three wickets for just 36 runs after 10.3 overs. The weather was not the only thing that dampened England’s spirits. The team was still reeling from a recent off‑field controversy involving bowler Brydon Carse, and captain Joe Root’s mood appeared subdued. His innings was cut short when Mohammad Abbas dismissed him for a mere four runs.
The early setbacks continued as Abbas claimed the wickets of Ben Duckett (17) and Emilio Gay (8), both falling cheaply to his disciplined line and length. Abbas finished with impressive figures of four for 56, while his fellow pacer Mohammad Ali added three for 67, each delivering a series of sharp, back‑of‑the‑hand catches that removed Harry Brook (15), Jamie Smith (61) and Ollie Robinson (0) in quick succession.
The England batting summary read: Duckett 17 off 20 balls, Gay 8 off 17, Root 4 off 13, Cox 55 off 105, Brook 14 off 26, Smith 61 off 80. Pakistan’s bowlers also featured Khurram Sahib with one for 79. Babar Azam’s return to the side marked a noticeable improvement in Pakistan’s overall performance compared with their 103‑run loss at Headingley the previous week.
Nonetheless, fielding lapses persisted; Mohammad Rizwan and his slip cordon were positioned too deep, allowing several chances to slip away in front of the wicket. As the afternoon progressed and the drizzle eased, England showed signs of recovery. Jordan Cox steadied the innings with a patient 55, hitting consecutive half‑centuries, while Smith, after a lean spell, managed to reach his own fifty. Their partnership of 67 runs off 97 balls provided a much‑needed platform after England slumped to 80 for four at lunch.
In post‑match comments, Smith explained his approach to Sky Sports, saying, “I was trying to ride the wave a little bit. It isn’t the most free‑scoring at times here – you can feel a bit out of rhythm but then catch up. I felt I scratched around at the start, but once I found the middle of the bat, it was slightly different to how I usually play, which is almost at top tempo to start with. That seemed to help today.” Gus Atkinson (34 not out) also contributed useful runs before play was halted at 6:10 p.m.
due to bad light. The umpires decided not to resume, leaving the day’s action unfinished. Abbas, who had managed only a single wicket at Headingley, was in prolific form at Lord’s. He first dismissed Gay with a sharp catch taken by Rizwan, who dove on the leg side to collect an edge.
Earlier, Duckett had edged a delivery to the slips in the opening over, but the ball fell short of the fielder. After 20 balls, Abbas finally trapped Duckett lbw. The on‑field decision initially read not out, as the ball appeared to glance over the stumps, but a review confirmed the dismissal. Root’s brief stay at the crease ended when Abbas bowled a delivery that struck the leg stump, leaving the captain unable to get his bat in time – a clean lbw.
Brook’s aggression was evident when he smashed Ali for four through square leg on his first ball, yet his innings lasted only a few minutes before Ali produced a stunning delivery that ricocheted off the off‑stump, arguably the day’s most spectacular ball. England’s middle order attempted to rebuild.
After the loss of Duckett and Gay, Cox partnered with Dan Lawrence for a 43‑run stand before a bizarre run‑out ended Lawrence’s innings. Cox, who struck seven boundaries, later joined Smith in a 67‑run partnership that briefly lifted England’s total. However, Salman Agha’s athletic one‑handed catch in the air off Cox’s edge broke the momentum.
Ali then turned his attention to the tail, dismissing both Smith and Robinson with two rapid back‑hand catches within three balls. The final wicket fell when Abbas removed Archer, who managed a six into the Lord’s Pavilion before being caught short of the crease. Abbas’s final figures reflected his dominance throughout the day.
Looking ahead, the second day promises further action as England seeks to post a competitive total and Pakistan aims to capitalize on the favorable swing conditions. Fans can follow the live coverage on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 p.m. on Friday, with streaming options available for those without a Sky subscription. The match remains a compelling contest between a resilient English side and a Pakistani team that has found its rhythm with the ball in the damp English summer.