Pakistan’s humiliation at Lord’s was completed on Sunday, August 30, as Babar Azam’s second reign as Test captain started with a series loss. Ollie Robinson delivered another exceptional performance as England beat Pakistan by 194 runs in the second Test at Lord’s to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The hosts wrapped up the victory with a day to spare, sealing their first Test series win since their success in New Zealand towards the end of 2024. Robinson was once again at the heart of England’s dominance, following up his first-innings exploits with figures of 4 for 24 as Pakistan were bowled out for 194 while chasing 389 as they were without the injured Imam-ul-Haq.
The seamer ended the match with outstanding figures of 8 for 35 from 27 overs. Jofra Archer was equally influential with his pace and aggression, while Josh Tongue finished off Pakistan’s lower order to complete another convincing England win.
ENGLAND VS PAKISTAN 2ND TEST DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS
Pakistan’s chase was effectively derailed within the opening few overs. Robinson struck twice to remove Azan Awais and Abdullah Shafique, before Archer accounted for captain Babar Azam as the visitors slumped to 14 for 3. Archer’s hostile short ball forced Babar into an awkward attempt to evade it, with the ball taking the shoulder of his bat before deflecting off his helmet and looping towards the slips.
Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood then mounted a spirited recovery, adding 97 runs for the fourth wicket either side of a 40-minute rain delay. Shakeel was particularly positive, reaching his half-century in just 54 balls and playing a series of attractive strokes to keep England’s bowlers at bay during a rare period when the hosts struggled to make inroads.
But Robinson returned to tilt the contest decisively back in England’s favour. Masood was trapped in front after moving across his stumps, with England needing a review to overturn the original decision. Robinson soon had another wicket when Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed lbw, giving the pacer his fourth wicket of the innings and eighth of the match.
Shakeel continued to fight despite losing partners around him. The left-hander handled England’s short-ball barrage impressively and struck 13 fours and two sixes during his innings. He also took a painful blow to the grille of his helmet from a Tongue bouncer but remained unfazed and went into the tea break unbeaten on 78.
After the interval, Archer removed Ali Usman when an incoming delivery found the inside edge and crashed into the stumps. Shakeel, meanwhile, went after Tongue’s short-pitched bowling, smashing two sixes and a boundary through the leg side to move within touching distance of a century.
However, his magnificent resistance ended on 97 when another short delivery from Tongue found the fielder at deep square leg. It was a heartbreaking end to an otherwise superb innings and brought Pakistan’s hopes of an unlikely fightback to an end. Tongue quickly removed Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali as England completed the victory.
Earlier in the day, Mohammad Abbas gave Pakistan something to celebrate by finally earning a place on the Lord’s honours board with a five-wicket haul. Abbas finished with 5 for 57 in England’s second innings and nine wickets for the match, adding to his impressive record at the historic venue.
Dan Lawrence, who had resumed unbeaten on 50, added just four runs before Abbas got a delivery to jag back and disturb the stumps. The Pakistan seamer then completed his five-for when Robinson edged a good-length delivery to wicketkeeper Rizwan.
Pakistan’s problems, however, could be traced back to the second day. Having reduced England to 36 for 3 and later 77 for 4, they allowed the hosts’ last-wicket partnership between Tongue and Gus Atkinson to take the total to 290. Their batting then collapsed against the pace of Robinson and Archer, leaving them with too much ground to make up in the match.
Despite Abbas’s brilliance and Shakeel’s defiant 97, England’s superior bowling attack proved the difference once again. With the series now secured, the hosts will head into the final Test with the opportunity to complete a 3-0 sweep.
– Ends
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