England defeated Pakistan by 194 runs in the second Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday, securing a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.
Pakistan’s struggling batting lineup has once again failed to cope with England’s bowlers, as they were reduced to 176 for 8 in their second innings. England set Pakistan a target of 389 runs after being dismissed for 208 in 54.2 overs on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday.
The hosts resumed their innings at 177/7 from 46.5 overs but lost their final three wickets for just 31 additional runs. Dan Lawrence was the first to fall, departing for a well-made 54 off 70 balls. His innings included seven boundaries and two sixes. Mohammad Abbas continued to impress with the ball, claiming his fifth wicket of the innings by removing Ollie Robinson, who scored eight runs from 15 deliveries, including one four.
Josh Tongue provided some resistance and kept the scoreboard moving. England eventually crossed the 200-run mark after a misfield from Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan allowed the hosts to pick up an additional boundary.
In Pakistan’s second innings, as in the first innings, opener Imam-ul-Haq was unavailable due to a calf injury, so Azan Owais opened the innings alongside Shan Masood. However, Pakistan quickly lost the wickets of first-innings top scorer Azan Owais, Abdullah Shafique, and captain Babar Azam, leaving them struggling at 14 runs. Former Test captain Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel then took charge and attempted to steady the innings.
After the lunch break on the fourth day, play was halted for some time due to rain. When play resumed, Pakistan suffered their fourth setback at a total of 111 runs. Ollie Robinson, who had dismissed openers Azan Owais and Abdullah Shafique within three balls of his third over, struck Shan Masood on the pads with an incoming delivery. South African umpire Adrian Holdstock initially ruled the left-handed batsman not out, but the DRS showed that the ball would have hit the stumps, forcing the umpire to overturn his decision. Shan Masood was dismissed for 26 runs off 72 balls, bringing an end to his 97-run partnership with Saud Shakeel for the fourth wicket.
Wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who came in at No. 6, lasted just nine balls before becoming Robinson’s fourth victim of the innings. Rizwan attempted to hit a straight delivery that was coming into the stumps by getting down on one knee and playing a powerful shot, but he was given out LBW.
After the tea break, Ali Usman was dismissed by Jofra Archer for 16. At the other end, Saud Shakeel remained firm, but while attempting a pull shot against Josh Tongue, he unfortunately edged the ball to the boundary, where Harry Brook took the catch. Saud fell just three runs short of his fifth Test century. He scored 97 runs off 122 balls, including 13 fours and two sixes. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for 191 runs in their second innings.
Ollie Robinson was England’s most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 24 runs, as England won the match by 194 runs to take a decisive 2–0 lead in the series. The third and final Test between England and Pakistan will begin at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham on September 9.
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