England are on the brink of delivering the most decisive series whitewash of the Pakistan tour after they skittled the visitors to 52 for 2, still trailing by 268 runs, when rain forced an early end to play on the second day of the third Test at Edgbaston. Pakistan's modest total at the close of play was, in fact, a small step forward after a dramatically worse start that seemed as bleak as the gathering clouds when they found themselves 0 for 2 in the very first over bowled by England’s newcomer Ollie Robinson. Robinson, who finished the spell with figures of two wickets for ten runs, dismissed opener Saim Ayub on the first ball – Ayub, one of four players who were flown straight into the squad after seven members were sent home, was out for a golden duck. Just three balls later, Abdullah Shafique fell to a catch in the slips, further denting Pakistan’s hopes.

Robinson’s early impact has been nothing short of sensational. Across his four Test appearances this summer he has claimed 28 wickets at an astonishing average of 7.75, and in this series alone his average improves to an even more impressive 6.66. Such numbers have placed him in elite company and have turned him into the focal point of England’s bowling attack.

Meanwhile, veteran batsman Joe Root, fielding at slip, took a sharp catch to dismiss Shafique, moving him one catch ahead of Australia’s Steve Smith and putting him on 220 catches in his Test career – a personal milestone in the ongoing contest for the most catches by an outfielder in the format. The second innings of Pakistan’s first innings did not produce the same cascade of wickets. Azan Awais (29 not out) and Shan Masood (21 not out) managed to forge a partnership that crossed the fifty‑run mark before the rain intervened.

Masood, however, was soon dismissed for 13 by Ben Duckett, who claimed his third wicket of the match, edging a delivery from the unfortunate Gus Atkinson. A quick recap of the scores: - Pakistan 1st innings: 133 all out in 33.5 overs – top scores: Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21. England bowlers: Josh Tongue 4‑42, Ollie Robinson 3‑15, Jofra Archer 3‑25.

- England 1st innings: 453 all out in 89 overs – top scores: Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50. Pakistan bowler: Razaullah 4‑148.

- Pakistan 2nd innings (so far): 52‑2 after 12.4 overs, still 268 runs behind. Current batsmen: Azan Awais 29 not out, Shan Masood 21 not out. England bowler: Ollie Robinson 2‑10.

Earlier on day one England had been dismissed for 452, which gave them a massive 320‑run first‑innings lead. The innings was built on solid contributions from Dan Lawrence (65), Jamie Smith (69) and Ollie Robinson (50), who joined Emilio Gay’s 60 and Harry Brook’s 75 to push the total past the 400‑run barrier. Brook added a quick 23 runs to his overnight tally before being the first wicket to fall on the second morning.

His dismissal came as he attempted a risky single to mid‑wicket; Shan Masood swooped in with a direct hit, effectively running Brook out. The early loss did not halt England’s scoring momentum. Smith soon partnered with Lawrence, and the pair added 64 runs before Lawrence was bowled after a mis‑timed defensive shot that ricocheted off Mohammad Imran’s (2‑47) delivery and struck his own stumps just before the lunch break.

Smith then reached his half‑century, arriving at 50 off 54 balls, but he could not convert the start into a bigger score. After a brief cameo from Gus Atkinson (19) was ended by Imran’s skillful bowling, Smith was caught by the in‑form Pakistani bowler Razaullah, who finished the innings with four wickets for 148 runs. In the field, Smith had to leave the wicket‑keeping duties to Jordan Cox because of a finger injury sustained on day one. The injury forced the regular keeper to sit out, but the team managed without a major dip in performance.

Robinson, celebrating his second Test fifty, and Jofra Archer (32 not out) added flair in the lower order, frequently finding the boundary and helping England push their total well beyond 400, cementing a lead of more than 300 runs before the innings was finally declared closed. Pakistan entered their second innings with a cautious mindset, and after Robinson’s early double strike the prospect of a two‑day finish seemed plausible. However, Azan Awais and Shan Masood displayed some resilience, adding valuable runs before rain once again interrupted play.

Dan Lawrence expressed disappointment at missing out on a maiden Test century. The 29‑year‑old, who had already recorded scores of 51 at Headingley and 54 at Lord’s in the series, said: "I'm obviously gutted that I didn't convert and make a big score, but I'm happy with my overall contribution. I felt I was playing well on a good surface against a tiring attack.

I thought I would make a big score, but it didn't happen. I've missed out on two chances to post big scores – at Headingley and here – but I'm pleased with three fifties in four innings in this series. If someone had offered me 65 at the start of the day, I would have taken it." Robinson has undeniably been the star of the series, boasting 21 wickets at a jaw‑dropping average of 6.66. When he dismissed Shafique for the fifth time in six innings, his average against the Pakistani batsman stood at a minuscule 6.19.

England slip fielder Dan Lawrence admitted the slip cordon must stay on high alert whenever Robinson is on a spell, noting that the bowler consistently hits the same spot, making it easier for fielders to anticipate and react. Sky Sports analyst Nasser Hussain was critical of Pakistan’s selection policies, particularly the inclusion of Saim Ayub, who had not played first‑class cricket for eleven months after a stint in the Caribbean Premier League.

Hussain questioned the wisdom of flying a player in from foreign conditions to face the Duke ball and Robinson’s pace, labeling the decision as disrespectful to the spirit of Test cricket. He also highlighted the morale impact of sending seven players home mid‑series, suggesting it fostered a sense of abandonment among the remaining squad members. The third Test continues to be streamed live on Sky Sports, with coverage beginning at 10:15 am on Friday.

Viewers without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream via NOW without a contract.