Pakistan suffer Lord’s defeat after 16 years as England seal Test series

England beat Pakistan by 194 runs in the second Test at Lord’s on Sunday to go 2-0 up in the three-match series.

The hosts skittled out Pakistan for 194 in pursuit of 389 to seal another dominant victory after their innings and 103-run success at Headingley in the first Test. The result also ended Pakistan’s 16-year unbeaten record at Lord’s.

England were bowled out for 208 in their second innings on the fourth morning, setting Pakistan a difficult chase in the final innings. Mohammad Abbas provided the visitors a huge lift by taking five wickets for 57 and in doing so earned a position on the Lord’s honours board for the first time in his career.

But Pakistan’s frail batting line-up was swiftly exposed by England’s bowlers. Three early wickets reduced the visitors to 14, providing them with a mountain to climb on a tough surface.

Premature collapse

Ollie Robinson proved once again the biggest threat to Pakistan, striking twice in the opening stages of the innings. Azan Awais was taken out and then he sent a beautiful ball that beat the defence of Abdullah Shafique and the opener was gone for naught.

Then Jofra Archer struck another big blow by getting Pakistan skipper Babar Azam out. Babar tried to leave a short delivery but was caught in the slips, with Jordan Cox taking the catch.

Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel came in to steady the ship. The pair survived a tough period of bowling and brought Pakistan to lunch without additional harm but England continued to apply the pressure after the interval.

Robinson eventually broke the partnership when he had Masood caught behind for 26. Pakistan vice-captain had fought hard but failed to turn his resistance into a big score.

Next out was Mohammad Rizwan, who went leg before wicket to Robinson for one. England were in complete control with Pakistan five wickets down and Imam-ul-Haq missing through injury.

Shakeel fights back

Saud Shakeel was the only real resistance from Pakistan in the innings. The left-hander hit his half-century off 54 balls and continued to attack when the opportunity presented themselves.

Wickets fell around him, but he was hitting boundaries regularly and seemed determined to take the fight further. Shakeel and Ali Usman temporarily took England through their paces but the visitors’ hopes remained slim as the required runs kept mounting up.

Ali Usman ultimately went for 16, pushing a delivery from Archer onto his stumps. Shakeel replied by targeting Josh Tongue and hit two sixes as he sought to move toward a century.

His aggression, in time, was his undoing. Shakeel’s dismissal for 97, caught in the deep off Tongue, fell three runs short of a merited century.

England then promptly finished up the innings with his exit. Tongue’s final wicket was Mohammad Ali as Pakistan were bowled out for 194 to seal an emphatic England win.

Abbas makes history

Earlier, Mohammad Abbas delivered one of the individual performances of the match. The experienced seamer bagged five wickets, resuming on the fourth morning with three in England’s second innings, removing Dan Lawrence and Ollie Robinson to finish his five-wicket total.

Abbas completed with 5-57 from 22 overs and ended the match with 9-130. His five wickets saw him enter the hallowed Lord’s honours board, which acknowledges players who take five wickets in an innings or attain other significant individual milestones at the iconic venue.

England were 177 for seven at the close on Saturday after rain and poor light limited play. Abbas then dismissed Lawrence, who had come in undefeated on 50, after four more runs with a wonderful seaming delivery.

Abbas then got rid of Robinson, who edged one to Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps. England had slipped from 186-8 to 187-9 before Josh Tongue hit a couple of boundaries off Mohammad Ali.

Tongue was run out by Babar Azam, who struck direct from the covers in superb fashion to conclude the innings. England were removed for 208, leaving Pakistan a target of 389.

England in control

England made 290 in their first innings, with Jamie Smith (61) and Jordan Cox (55) the leading scorers. Abbas was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with 4-73 while Mohammad Ali took three wickets.

Pakistan’s first innings was another significant letdown as they were knocked out for just 110. Top-scored Azan Awais with 46, Ollie Robinson took 4-11 and Jofra Archer 3-26.

England’s victory came on the back of their impressive win at Headingley in the first Test, winning by an innings and 103 runs. Thus the hosts have dominated both games and have clinched the series with one Test to spare.

The third and final Test starts at Edgbaston on September 9 and Pakistan will be attempting to avoid the whitewash while England will be looking to seal the series 3-0.