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 second Test. England’s bowlers were dominant with both ball and bat, opening the day with Josh Tongue (30 not out) and Gus Atkinson (45) anchoring the innings.
The lower order set the tone early, contributing a vital 47‑run partnership that lifted England to a first‑innings total of 290. The hosts’ ferocious pace attack then returned to the field and dismantled Pakistan for just 110 runs in 37.2 overs. The four‑man English seam unit – Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson – delivered an unrelenting spell before lunch, though they were slightly unlucky not to claim more wickets as Pakistan stood at 16‑2 at the pavilion. Back on his familiar Lord's turf, Robinson, who famously claimed seven wickets against New Zealand earlier in June, was the standout bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 4‑11.
Archer, showcasing his blistering speed, added 3‑26, while Tongue also made his mark by dismissing both Abdullah Shafique (5) and captain Babar Azam (8) around the lunch break. Azan Awais proved the most resilient batsman for the visitors, scoring 46 off 102 balls before being caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a Robinson bouncer. After tea, England lost wickets quickly – Ben Duckett (1), Jordan Cox (11) and Joe Root (24) fell within 17 overs.
Play was halted at 6.50 pm due to fading light with England 81‑3 at stumps, leaving Gay (30 not out) and Harry Brook (7 not out) to resume on Saturday morning. Pakistan struggled to make inroads on Tongue and Atkinson early on Friday, a lapse that proved costly. Atkinson, after a quiet start, took strike and hammered Ali Usman for four, only to be caught at long‑off on the next ball.
Tongue’s batting was equally aggressive; he swept four boundaries and repeatedly exploited the gap between third slip and gully, adding 42 runs in a partnership that shifted momentum back to England. Pre‑match expectations suggested England’s seamers would thrive on the Lord's surface, but they exceeded those forecasts, delivering an hour‑long, relentless barrage before lunch. It took four overs for the first wicket, with Archer sending a searing delivery that induced Shan Masood (1) to edge behind to Smith. Smith, who had topped the scoring chart for England the previous day with a 61, returned to the crease shortly after, only to be dismissed by a sharp Tongue delivery that saw Shafique edge behind, leaving Pakistan 2‑16 after 14.1 overs.
After the break, England maintained their intensity. Tongue claimed the prized wicket of captain Babar Azam, while Robinson continued his spellbinding work on the Lord's pitch, removing Saud Shakeel (16) lbw after a review.
Robinson also secured Mohammad Rizwan (7) lbw following a brief rain interruption, overturning two crucial decisions in England’s favour. As clouds gathered over the Home of Cricket, Robinson and Archer each added two more wickets. Archer dismissed Usman (1), and Brook caught Khurram Shazad (1) off a Robinson edge after a earlier Atkinson delivery had already troubled Azan. Archer then rattled Mohammad Abbas (2) to the stumps, wrapping up Pakistan’s innings, while Imam‑ul‑Haq was unable to bat due to a calf injury.
England’s second innings began poorly. Duckett drove a loose ball to Babar at mid‑off, and Cox was soon out lbw to a Pakistani bowler. The hosts also lost their captain, Joe Root, for 24, as a delivery reminiscent of the one that had dismissed Brook on Thursday struck his front pad, resulting in an lbw decision. Despite the setback, England’s lead remained imposing, placing additional pressure on the lower order.
Brook, on his first ball back, successfully challenged an lbw call after a review, while Gay displayed remarkable composure at the crease. He fought off the attacks of Abbas and Ali, reaching 30 runs from 69 balls, including six fours, before play was again suspended due to bad light. Looking ahead, day three of the second Test will commence at 10.15 am on Saturday, with Sky Sports Cricket broadcasting live. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore the latest streaming deals or contract‑free options to catch the action.
The match promises further drama as England seeks to consolidate its massive lead and Pakistan strives to claw back into contention.