Brief Score: England 248/9 (Jamie Smith 61; Mohammad Abbas 4/62) vs Pakistan at stumps, Day 1 of the Lord’s Test.
Muhammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali led a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack as England were reduced to 248/9 on a rain-hit opening day of the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday. Play began only at 12.20pm BST after heavy rain delayed the start, and England quickly found themselves in trouble under overcast conditions. The hosts slipped to 36/3 in just 10.3 overs, with Abbas making the most of the movement on offer.
England vs Pakistan, 2nd Test Day 1: HIGHLIGHTS
Abbas was the standout bowler, taking four wickets, including the prized dismissal of Joe Root for just four. The Pakistan seamer also removed Emilio Gay for eight and Ben Duckett for 17 during a spell in which he claimed three wickets for four runs across 16 deliveries. Mohammad Ali provided excellent support with three wickets. His victims included Harry Brook, Jamie Smith and Ollie Robinson, with each batter bowled by deliveries that moved sharply down the Lord’s slope.
England’s middle order, however, prevented Pakistan from taking complete control. Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith combined for a crucial 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket, helping the hosts recover from a precarious position. Cox made a composed 55 from 105 balls, while Smith top-scored for England with 61 before Ali ended his innings. The pair negotiated the difficult conditions well as the weather improved during the afternoon.
Gus Atkinson then added valuable runs late in the day, remaining unbeaten on 34 to push England towards the 250-run mark. Pakistan could have been in an even stronger position but were let down by several dropped catches. Root was dropped at third slip by Imam-ul-Haq before being dismissed for four, while Shan Masood put down Lawrence on 10 before later making amends by running him out for 17.
Mohammad Rizwan also missed an opportunity behind the stumps, while Pakistan’s slip cordon struggled at times to hold onto edges that did not carry cleanly. England eventually reached 248/9 before bad light brought an early end to proceedings at 6.10pm. The umpires subsequently decided against a return to the field.
With more rain forecast over the next few days, the value of England’s total remains uncertain. However, after being put under considerable pressure early on, the hosts’ fightback through Cox, Smith and Atkinson has left the Test finely poised heading into the second day.
– Ends
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