Joe Root's second spell as England captain has begun in spectacular fashion, with his side cruising to a 194‑run victory over Pakistan at Lord's to clinch the series, moving ahead 2‑0 with one match still to play. The final day of the Test was dominated by England's bowlers, who took full advantage of a pitch that offered plenty of assistance to seam and swing.
After a solid first innings, England extended their lead by 32 runs on day four, setting Pakistan an imposing target of 389 runs to win. Pakistan's fast bowler Mohammad Abbas made a strong statement on Sunday, ripping through England's lower order and claiming five wickets as the hosts were bowled out for just 208. His spell was a reminder of the pressure that Pakistan can apply with the new ball, but England's bowlers responded in kind.
Ollie Robinson, back on his beloved Lord's turf, ripped out four wickets on the final day, taking his match tally to eight and helping England dismantle the Pakistani batting line‑up. Root praised his side's resilience, saying, "The lads have shown great adaptability.
We weathered some tough moments when we were 80‑4 and still managed to post a respectable total." He added that the contribution from the tail was crucial: "When your lower order can add 50 to 80 runs, it can be the difference in a Test." The English batting figures reflected a collective effort: Dan Lawrence scored a steady 54 off 70 balls, while Robinson, Tongue and Archer added quick runs in the lower order. On the bowling side, Robinson's 4‑14, Tongue's 3‑46, Archer's 2‑73 and Atkinson's 0‑41 combined to keep Pakistan under pressure.
Pakistan's response was anchored by Saud Shakeel, who fought back with a gritty 97, hitting 13 fours and two sixes. His innings gave Pakistan hope, but a mis‑timed slog saw him edge a delivery from Josh Tongue to deep point, where Harry Brook completed a simple catch. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 194, with Robinson earning the Player of the Match award after a burst of wickets that included Azan Awais, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan and again Shafique within a short spell. Jofra Archer also impressed, delivering his trademark pace to finish with figures of 2‑73, while Tongue contributed 3‑46.
Robinson's performance was particularly noteworthy; after taking seven wickets against New Zealand in June, he surpassed that haul with an 8‑35 match figure from 27 overs – a remarkable achievement for a bowler who has now claimed the Player of the Match award in each of his three Test starts this summer. Even as clouds drifted over the historic ground, Robinson extracted movement and bounce, dismissing both Awais and Shafique in the same over. Root highlighted the variety in England's attack: "We have great contrast and variety in our bowling. Ollie has been outstanding, and he's complemented by three other 90‑mph bowlers who ask different questions." Archer's early burst was dramatic, delivering a fierce bouncer to Babar Azam that forced a wild edge to third slip, caught by Jordan Cox.
After a brief rain interruption, Pakistan's Shan Masood (26) and Saud Shakeel (97) built a fourth‑wicket partnership of 97 runs from 139 balls, showcasing aggressive strokeplay before the rain paused play. When Pakistan reached 111 – a traditional "Nelson" – Robinson appealed for a leg‑before‑wicket against Masood, which was initially turned down.
A Hawk‑Eye review showed the ball hitting the leg stump, overturning the umpire's decision – the third successful review for England off a Robinson delivery in the match. Robinson continued his dominance, later dismissing Rizwan LBW and Archer taking the wicket of Ali Usman. Josh Tongue claimed the final two wickets, removing Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali, sealing England's win. Pakistan's opening batsman Imam‑ul‑Haq was unable to bat due to a calf injury.
Earlier in the match, after Dan Lawrence's half‑century on day three, he returned to the crease with Robinson, only to be dismissed within six overs by Abbas, who had already taken five wickets in the first innings. Abbas also removed Emilio Gay, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith on day three, and on day four he again struck, dismissing Lawrence with a sharp back‑of‑the‑hand delivery after Lawrence had reached his second fifty of the series. The emotional climax came when Abbas, after claiming his fifth wicket, fell to the ground in celebration, overwhelmed by the achievement. Pakistan's fielding had been under scrutiny throughout the series, yet captain Babar Azam set a high standard on Sunday morning, executing a brilliant direct hit from the covers to dismiss Josh Tongue.
Looking ahead, England will host Pakistan for the final Test, with day one scheduled for Thursday, 10 September, at 10:15 am on Sky Sports Cricket. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore the latest streaming deals to catch the action live. The series has highlighted England's depth in both batting and bowling, their ability to adapt to challenging conditions, and the emergence of Ollie Robinson as a match‑winning bowler at Lord's.
With the series already secured, both sides will now aim to finish on a high note, offering spectators another thrilling chapter in this storied rivalry.