England secured a dominant 194-run victory over Pakistan on Day 4 of the second Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a formidable target of 389, the visitors were bundled out for 194 in 50.5 overs despite a valiant 97 from middle-order batter Saud Shakeel.
Pakistan’s fourth-innings pursuit got off to a disastrous start. Pacer Ollie Robinson delivered an explosive opening spell, trapping opener Azan Awais leg-before for 6 before removing Abdullah Shafique for a duck in the fifth over. Jofra Archer deepened the visitors’ trouble shortly after, dismissing skipper Babar Azam for just 6 to reduce Pakistan to 14/3 inside eight overs.
With opener Imam-ul-Haq ruled out from batting due to injury, Pakistan faced an uphill battle. Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel mounted a temporary recovery, combining for a steady 97-run fourth-wicket stand.
Shakeel brought up his 11th Test half-century with aggressive stroke play, but Robinson returned to break the dynamic partnership, dismissing Masood for 26. Robinson struck again almost immediately, trapping Mohammad Rizwan LBW for 1 to leave Pakistan reeling at 115/5.
Despite tumbling wickets at the other end, Shakeel continued his solitary crusade, hitting 13 boundaries and two sixes in a brisk 122-ball knock. He found brief support from lower-order batter Ali Usman (16), who helped add 31 runs for the sixth wicket before falling to Archer.
Shakeel’s brave bid for a fifth Test century came to a heartbreaking end when Josh Tongue dismissed him three runs short of the milestone.
Tongue quickly wrapped up the tail, removing Khurram Shahzad for 9 and final batter Mohammad Ali for 8, sealing a comprehensive victory for the hosts. Robinson finished as the standout bowler for England with four wickets, supported effectively by Tongue and Archer.
Abbas Five-For Directs Early Day 4 Resistance
Earlier in the day, England resumed their second innings at 177/7 following a heavily rain-curtailed Day 3. Pakistan paceman Mohammad Abbas led a disciplined morning attack to restrict the hosts to 208 in 54.2 overs, completing his eighth career five-wicket haul with figures of 5/57.
Dan Lawrence top-scored for England in the second innings with a fluent 54, while Harry Brook (34), Emilio Gay (31), and Joe Root (24) contributed vital runs. Despite Abbas’ five-for and two wickets apiece from Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali, England’s massive 180-run first-innings cushion proved decisive.
Having previously rolled Pakistan out for just 110 in their first effort, the hosts successfully defended their 388-run cushion to wrap up the series ahead of the final Test.
