Joe Root’s second spell as England captain has begun in spectacular fashion, with his side cruising to a commanding 194‑run victory over Pakistan at Lord's, thereby sealing the series with a 2‑0 lead and one match still to play. The final Test unfolded on a bowler‑friendly surface, yet England managed to extend their advantage by 32 runs on the fourth day, setting a daunting target of 389 for the visitors.
Mohammad Abbas was the standout bowler for Pakistan on Sunday, ripping through England’s lower order to claim a five‑wicket haul as the hosts were dismissed for 208. However, the English bowlers responded in kind. Ollie Robinson, back on his beloved Lord's turf, struck fear into the Pakistani batting line‑up, taking four wickets on the day and finishing the match with eight scalps.
His incisive spell helped England dismantle the opposition and secure the win. 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, noting that “if our lower order can add 50‑80 runs, that can be the difference in a Test.” The England innings featured Dan Lawrence’s solid 54 off 70 balls, a quick‑fire 8 from Robinson, and brief bursts from Josh Tongue (12 off 15) and Jofra Archer (2 not out off 14).
The bowlers returned the favour with Robinson’s 4‑14, Tongue’s 3‑46, Archer’s 2‑73 and Atkinson’s 0‑41. Pakistan’s batting was led by Saud Shakeel’s gritty 97 off 122 balls, while Babar Azam contributed a brisk 6 off 8.
In contrast, Mohammad Abbas’s 5‑22 was the highlight for the visitors. Shakeel’s near‑century was a valiant effort; he struck 13 fours and two towering sixes, pushing the total beyond the 100‑run mark before being caught at deep point by Harry Brook off a well‑timed pull from Tongue. Despite his heroics, Pakistan could not chase down England’s imposing target and were bowled out for 194. Robinson, who was named Player of the Match, claimed the wickets of Azan Awais, Abdullah Shafique (twice), and Mohammad Rizwan in quick succession, underlining his dominance.
Archer also impressed with his raw pace, finishing with figures of 2‑73, while Tongue added 3‑46. Robinson’s performance was particularly noteworthy: after taking seven wickets in England’s loss to New Zealand at Lord’s in June, he surpassed that haul with an 8‑35 match figure from 27 overs in this game – a remarkable achievement for a bowler who has earned Player of the Match honors in each of his three Test starts this summer. The day was not without drama.
After a brief rain interruption, Shan Masood (26) and Saud Shakeel forged a 97‑run partnership, stabilising Pakistan’s innings. However, a contentious appeal involving Robinson’s delivery saw the umpire initially give a not‑out decision when Masood’s leg‑stump was struck. A review using Hawk‑Eye overturned the call, marking the third successful challenge of an umpire’s decision against a Robinson ball during the match. Later, Robinson dismissed Rizwan lbw, and Archer soon after removed Ali Usman.
Tongue wrapped up the innings by taking the final two wickets – Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali – sealing England’s victory. Imam‑ul‑Haq was unable to bat due to a calf injury.
Earlier in the series, Abbas had also caused trouble for England, taking five wickets on day three and dismissing key batsmen such as Emilio Gay, Harry Brook and Jamie Smith. On day four, he continued his spell, removing Lawrence with a sharp back‑of‑the‑hand delivery after Lawrence had reached his second half‑century of the series. Root highlighted the quality of England’s bowling attack, stating, “The way we’ve operated with the ball has been excellent. We have great contrast and variety in our attack.
Ollie has been outstanding, and he’s supported by three other 90‑mph bowlers who ask different questions.” Pakistan’s fielding also attracted scrutiny throughout the series. Nevertheless, captain Babar Azam set a high standard on Sunday, executing a direct hit from the covers to dismiss Josh Tongue for 12, showcasing his athleticism.
Looking ahead, England will host Pakistan for the final Test of the series, with day one scheduled to begin on Thursday, September 10, at 10:15 am on Sky Sports Cricket. Fans without a Sky subscription can explore streaming options or the latest Sky Sports deals to catch the live action. Overall, the match highlighted England’s depth in both batting and bowling, their ability to recover from precarious positions, and the emergence of Ollie Robinson as a match‑winning bowler on the world stage. The series now stands at 2‑0 in England’s favour, and the upcoming Test promises to be a fitting climax to a compelling contest between the two nations.