Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer tore through Pakistan's batting line‑up, helping England build a commanding 261‑run lead on the second day of the second Test at Lord's. The English side displayed dominance with both ball and bat, kicking off the day with lower‑order batsmen Josh Tongue (30 not out) and Gus Atkinson (45) anchoring the innings. The tail‑enders set the tone early, adding a vital 47‑run partnership that took England to a first‑innings total of 290.
Once the hosts’ aggressive pace attack returned to the field, they skittled Pakistan out for just 110 runs in 37.2 overs. The four‑man English fast‑bowling unit – Robinson, Archer, Tongue and Atkinson – ran rampant, delivering an unrelenting spell before lunch that, while devastating, left them just short of a larger wicket haul as Pakistan finished the session at 16‑2. Robinson, who famously claimed seven wickets at Lord's against New Zealand in June, was the standout bowler, finishing with an impressive 4‑11. Archer, showcasing his trademark pace, added 3‑26, while Tongue contributed by dismissing both Abdullah Shafique (5) and the Pakistani captain Babar Azam (8) on either side of the lunch break.
Azan Awais proved the most resilient for the visitors, top‑scoring with 46 runs off 102 balls before being caught at mid‑on by Emilio Gay off a blistering Robinson bouncer. After tea, England’s batting faltered quickly: Ben Duckett fell for a single, Jordan Cox made 11, and Joe Root was out for 24 within the next 17 overs. Play was halted at 6:50 pm due to fading light, leaving England at 81‑3 at stumps, with Gay (30 not out) and Harry Brook (7 not out) set to resume on Saturday morning. When play resumed on Friday, Pakistan struggled to break the partnership of Tongue and Atkinson, a lapse that proved costly.
Atkinson, batting aggressively, struck a four off Ali Usman and was soon caught at long‑off. Tongue, meanwhile, displayed confident strokeplay, sweeping four boundaries and exploiting a gap between third slip and gully, prompting questions about Pakistan’s field placements. The English bowlers exceeded expectations on Friday, delivering a relentless hour‑long spell before lunch.
It took four overs for the first wicket, when Archer sent a searing delivery that forced Shan Masood to edge behind to Smith. Shortly after, Tongue induced another edge from Shafique, leaving Pakistan 2‑16 after 14.1 overs. The pressure continued after the break, with Tongue claiming the prized wicket of captain Babar Azam.
Robinson then worked his magic again, dismissing Saud Shakeel (16) lbw after a review, and later trapping Mohammad Rizwan (7) lbw following a brief rain interruption. As clouds gathered over the historic ground, Robinson and Archer each added two more wickets. Archer removed Ali Usman, while Brook edged a Robinson delivery to slip, dismissing Khurram Shazad (1). Archer then bowled Mohammad Abbas (2) clean‑bowled, wrapping up Pakistan’s innings as Imam‑ul‑Haq was unable to bat due to a calf injury.
England’s second innings began poorly. Duckett mishit a drive that resulted in a catch at mid‑off, and Cox was dismissed lbw by a Pakistani bowler. The loss of captain Joe Root for 24 came when a delivery that had previously troubled Brook on Thursday struck Root’s front pad, leading to an lbw decision. Despite the setback, England maintained a sizeable lead, applying pressure on the lower order of Pakistan.
Brook, however, turned the tables by overturning an lbw call after a review on his very first ball. Gay proved a stalwart, battling the likes of Abbas and Ali to compile 30 runs off 69 balls, featuring six boundaries before play was again suspended due to bad light.
Looking ahead, day three promises further action as England seeks to consolidate its dominant position and aim for an innings victory. Fans can tune in to Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Saturday to follow the live coverage. For those without a Sky subscription, the latest Sky Sports deals or contract‑free streaming options are available to ensure no one misses the climax of this compelling Test series.