Joe Root’s second spell as England captain has gotten off to a spectacular start, with his side cruising to a 194‑run victory over Pakistan at Lord's and sealing the series with a 2‑0 lead and one match still to play. The final Test, played on a pitch that heavily favoured the bowlers, saw England extend their advantage by 32 runs on the fourth day, setting a daunting target of 389 for the visitors. Mohammad Abbas ripped through the English lower order on Sunday, claiming a five‑wicket haul as England were bowled out for just 208.
In response, Pakistan could not chase down the imposing total. England’s own fast bowler Ollie Robinson, back on his beloved Lord's turf, struck four wickets on the day, taking his match tally to eight and helping the hosts dismantle the Pakistani batting line‑up. "The lads have shown great adaptability," Root said after the match. "We weathered some tough spots – at one point we were 80 for 4 – and still managed to post a competitive total." **England’s batting figures** - Dan Lawrence: 54 off 70 balls - Ollie Robinson: 8 off 15 balls - Josh Tongue: 12 off 15 balls - Jofra Archer: 2 not out off 14 balls **Bowling figures** - Ollie Robinson: 4 for 14 - Josh Tongue: 3 for 46 - Jofra Archer: 2 for 73 - Ben Atkinson: 0 for 41 **Pakistan’s batting figures** - Shan Masood: 26 off 72 balls - Awais: 5 off 14 balls - Shafique: 0 off 13 balls - Babar Azam: 6 off 8 balls - Saud Shakeel: 97 off 122 balls - Rizwan: 1 off 9 balls **Bowling figures** - Mohammad Abbas: 5 for 22 Root added, "We displayed maturity and problem‑solving.
It isn’t always the top order that has to do the heavy lifting. The way the tail‑enders contributed – adding 50 to 80 runs – can be decisive in a Test." While England seemed poised to cruise to victory, Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel (97) fought back with grit, striking 13 fours and two massive sixes, making life uncomfortable for the English bowlers. His aggressive slog, however, ended abruptly when he edged a delivery to deep point, where Harry Brook was waiting to claim the catch. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 194.
Ollie Robinson, who earned the Player of the Match award, dismissed Azan Awais (7) and Abdullah Shafique (0) in consecutive balls, then later removed Mohammad Rizwan (1) and Shafique again, completing a devastating spell. Jofra Archer also shone, using his raw pace to finish with figures of 2 for 73, while Josh Tongue added three wickets for 46 runs. Robinson’s performance was historic.
In June, he took seven wickets against New Zealand at Lord's, and on Sunday he surpassed that, finishing with match figures of 8 for 35 from 27 overs. Remarkably, the Sussex paceman has been named Player of the Match in each of his first three Test starts this summer, underscoring his rapid rise. Even as clouds gathered over the "Home of Cricket" on day four, Robinson extracted plenty of movement, removing both Awais and Shafique in the same over.
"Our bowling has been excellent," Root observed. "We have contrast and variety – Ollie leading the charge, backed by three other 90‑mph threats who ask different questions of the batsmen." Archer’s early burst rattled Pakistan, delivering a brutal bouncer to Babar Azam, who edged it to third slip where Jordan Cox was waiting. After a brief rain interruption, Pakistan’s Shan Masood (26) and Saud Shakeel built a fourth‑wicket partnership of 97 runs off 139 balls, showcasing aggressive stroke‑play before the weather halted play.
When Pakistan reached 111 – a superstitious "Nelson" – Robinson appealed for an lbw, which was initially turned down. Root reviewed the decision, and Hawk‑Eye showed the ball hitting Masood’s leg stump, overturning the umpire’s call. It marked the third successful review of a Robinson delivery in the match.
Soon after, Robinson dismissed Rizwan (1) lbw, and Archer claimed Ali Usman (16) for a wicket. Josh Tongue wrapped up the innings, taking the final two wickets – Khurram Shahzad (9) and Mohammad Ali (8) – sealing England’s win. Imam‑ul‑Haq missed the innings due to a calf injury.
Earlier in the game, after a solid half‑century on day three, Dan Lawrence (54) returned to the crease with Ollie Robinson (8) but both fell quickly to Abbas’s five‑wicket haul. Abbas had already troubled England on day three, removing Emilio Gay (31), Harry Brook (34) and Jamie Smith (7). On day four, he continued his on‑target spell, dismissing Lawrence’s leg stump with a crisp back‑of‑the‑hand delivery after Lawrence’s second fifty of the series.
Abbas’s emotional celebration after his fifth wicket highlighted his impact. Pakistan’s fielding, often criticised during the series, saw a bright moment when captain Babar Azam produced a spectacular direct hit from the covers to dismiss Josh Tongue (12).
Looking ahead, England will face Pakistan in the final Test of the series, scheduled to start 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 series has demonstrated England’s resilience, depth in both batting and bowling, and the emergence of Ollie Robinson as a match‑winning force. Their ability to adapt to bowler‑friendly conditions, extract movement from the seam, and rely on lower‑order contributions has set a benchmark for future Tests.
Pakistan, despite the loss, showed flashes of brilliance through Shakeel’s near‑century and moments of fielding excellence, suggesting a competitive finale awaits.