England seize control after Pakistan collapse at Lord's in second Test

England seized control of the second Test against Pakistan at Lord’s on Day 2 as Pakistan suffered another heavy batting collapse.

The hosts had resumed at 248/9 and were bowled out for 290 in the morning; Pakistan were then dismissed for 110, leaving England a 180-run first-innings advantage. England began their second innings and reached 81/3 before bad light halted play, leaving the hosts 261 runs ahead with three days still remaining.

England’s last-wicket pair, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, added 47 runs to frustrate Pakistan’s bowlers in the opening session. Atkinson scored 45 off 46 balls, including six fours, while Tongue remained unbeaten on 30.

Pakistan’s reply collapsed quickly after the break. Jofra Archer removed Shan Masood for one, Tongue dismissed Abdullah Shafique for five, and Babar Azam fell for eight; Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan were unable to steady the innings.

Azan Awais was the lone longer innings for Pakistan, compiling 46 from 102 balls before Ollie Robinson dismissed him. Robinson finished the innings with figures of 13-6-11-4; Archer claimed three wickets and Tongue took two.

Pakistan’s innings lasted 37.2 overs before they were all out, yielding the 180-run first-innings deficit. England’s recovery in their second innings followed an earlier wobble on the opening day, when Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali had reduced the hosts to 120/5.

Pakistan face the difficult task of producing a vastly improved performance on Day 3.