Joe Root’s second spell as England captain has begun with a bang, as his side secured a comprehensive 194‑run victory over Pakistan at Lord’s, wrapping up the series with a 2‑0 lead and one match still to play. The final day of the Test was dominated by England’s bowlers, who exploited a pitch that offered plenty of assistance to the seamers. After a solid first‑innings performance, England extended their advantage by 32 runs on day four, setting Pakistan an imposing target of 389 runs to win.
Mohammad Abbas was the standout for Pakistan on Sunday, ripping through England’s lower order and claiming a five‑wicket haul as the hosts were bowled out for a modest 208. However, the English attack, led by the ever‑reliable Ollie Robinson, proved too potent for the visitors.
Robinson, back in his familiar Lord’s environment, struck four wickets on the final day, taking his match tally to eight and dismantling the Pakistani batting line‑up with ruthless efficiency. Root praised his side’s resilience, saying, “The lads have shown great adaptability. We weathered a tricky situation when we were 80‑4 and still managed to post a respectable total.” He added that the team’s maturity and problem‑solving ability were evident, especially when the lower order contributed valuable runs.
“It doesn’t always have to be the top order that scores the bulk of the runs. If our tail can add 50‑80 runs, that can be the difference in a Test,” he explained. England’s batting figures were highlighted by Dan Lawrence’s 54 off 70 balls, while Robinson and Josh Tongue added quick bursts of 8 off 15 and 12 off 15 respectively. In the bowling department, Robinson’s 4‑14, Tongue’s 3‑46, Jofra Archer’s 2‑73 and the surprising 0‑41 from Atkinson rounded out a balanced attack.
Pakistan’s reply was anchored by a gritty 97 from Saud Shakeel, who displayed a mixture of composure and aggression, hammering 13 fours and two sixes. Yet his effort was not enough to stem the tide.
Shakeel’s attempt to accelerate saw him loft a delivery to deep point, where Harry Brook was ready to swoop in for the catch, ending Shakeel’s innings. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 194.
Robinson, who had already earned the Player of the Match award, removed Azan Awais and Abdullah Shafique in quick succession, followed by the dismissals of Mohammad Rizwan and a second wicket of Shafique within the same over. Archer continued to impress with his blistering pace, finishing with figures of 2‑73, while Tongue added three wickets for 46 runs.
Robinson’s performance was historic. After taking seven wickets in England’s defeat to New Zealand at Lord’s in June, he surpassed that haul by claiming eight wickets for just 35 runs from 27 overs on Sunday.
This made him the only bowler to win the Player of the Match award in each of his first three Test starts this summer, underscoring his rapid rise as a frontline paceman. Even as clouds gathered over the historic ground, Robinson extracted movement from the seam, dismissing both Awais and Shafique in the same over.
Root lauded the bowling unit’s variety, noting, “We have great contrast and variety in our attack. Ollie has been outstanding and is complemented by three other 90‑mph bowlers who ask different questions.” Archer’s early burst was equally decisive. He sent a brutal bouncer at Babar Azam, who edged it to third slip where Jordan Cox was waiting, leaving Pakistan reeling at 3‑14. After a brief rain interruption, Shan Masood (26) and Saud Shakeel built a resilient partnership of 97 runs from 139 balls, showcasing a mix of defensive technique and aggressive shot‑making.
Their stand was halted when the umpire turned down an appeal on a front‑pad dismissal; a Hawk‑Eye review later confirmed the ball had struck Masood’s leg stump, marking England’s third successful challenge of an umpiring decision in the match. Robinson continued his spell, claiming Rizwan lbw three overs later, while Archer dismissed Ali Usman. Tongue finished the innings by taking the final two wickets, removing Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali, sealing England’s win. Imam‑ul‑Haq did not bat due to a calf injury.
Earlier in the match, after Dan Lawrence’s elegant half‑century on day three, he returned to the crease with Robinson, only to fall quickly to Abbas’s five‑wicket haul. Abbas also dismissed Emilio Gay, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith on day three, and returned on day four to claim Lawrence’s wicket with a sharp back‑of‑the‑hand delivery.
His emotional celebration after the fifth wicket highlighted the impact of his spell. Pakistan’s fielding came under scrutiny throughout the series, yet captain Babar Azam set a positive example on Sunday with a direct hit from the covers to dismiss Josh Tongue, demonstrating sharp reflexes and athleticism.
Looking ahead, England will host Pakistan for the final Test at Lord’s on September 10, with live coverage on Sky Sports. Fans who cannot access Sky can explore streaming deals or the Sky Sports app to catch the action.
The series has already provided a showcase of emerging talent, tactical nous, and the timeless drama that defines Test cricket.