Pakistan’s fast bowlers dominated the opening day of the second Test against England at Lord’s, reducing the hosts to 248 for nine after 56 overs in a rain-affected contest.
Mohammad Abbas led the attack with four wickets for 56 runs and reached 900 first-class wickets during the innings. Mohammad Ali added three for 67, while Khurram Shahzad claimed one wicket as Pakistan repeatedly exposed England’s lower order.
England slipped to 120 for five before Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox repaired the innings. Smith scored 61 from 80 balls, while Cox made 55 from 105 deliveries. Their 67-run partnership briefly steadied England before Ali removed Smith and later Ollie Robinson without scoring.
Gus Atkinson remained unbeaten on 34 from only 27 balls at the close, with Josh Tongue alongside him on one. Pakistan’s disciplined use of the new ball and sustained pressure through the middle session prevented England from building a substantial first-innings platform.
The match began after a delayed start because of rain, leaving both sides with limited playing time. Pakistan entered the Test seeking a response after England won the Headingley opener by an innings and 103 runs.
The second Test is scheduled to run through August 31, with the third match of the series beginning at Edgbaston on September 9. Pakistan’s immediate objective is to finish England’s innings quickly and convert its early advantage into a competitive first-innings total.
