In a commanding display at Lord’s, Ollie Robinson continued to dominate the Pakistan batting lineup, putting England in a strong position to secure a series-clinching victory in the second Test on Sunday. As the match progressed into its fourth day, Pakistan found themselves struggling at 140-5, still requiring an unlikely 249 runs to reach a daunting target of 389 runs.
Robinson’s bowling figures of 4-24 in 14 overs followed a remarkable first innings where he took 4-11, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s dismal total of 110 all out. His performance on Sunday included crucial double strikes that disrupted Pakistan’s efforts, particularly targeting the partnership between Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood, who had managed to put together a fourth-wicket stand of 97 runs.
Robinson’s early breakthroughs left Pakistan reeling at 7-2, with the express pace of Jofra Archer dismissing captain Babar Azam shortly after. England, eyeing a 2-0 lead in this three-match series, seemed well on their way to achieving their first multi-match Test series victory since triumphing 2-1 in New Zealand over a year ago.
Despite the precarious situation at 14-3 before lunch, Shakeel and Masood fought valiantly to make England work for their wickets. Robinson, however, was relentless, eventually trapping Masood lbw for a gritty 26 runs after a successful review overturned the initial not out decision by the umpire. Soon after, Robinson struck again, dismissing Mohammad Rizwan for a careless slog, leaving Pakistan at 115-5.
Pakistan’s batting woes were compounded by the absence of Imam-ul-Haq, who was unable to bat in the first innings due to a calf strain. This forced the team to rely heavily on Masood and debutant Azan Awais to navigate the new ball on a pitch that continued to offer assistance to seamers. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Awais fell victim to Robinson, and just three balls later, Abdullah Shafique was bowled without scoring, courtesy of a superb delivery that angled in and moved away to hit the off stump.
Archer’s aggressive bowling also played a pivotal role, as he forced Azam into an uncomfortable position, resulting in a catch to Jordan Cox at second slip. With Pakistan’s chances of leveling the series appearing increasingly slim, the team’s first-innings collapse loomed large, especially after their disappointing totals of 171 and 135 in the first Test at Headingley, where they lost by an innings and 103 runs.
Shakeel, however, showed resilience, reaching his fifty in just 54 balls, and despite facing some fierce bouncers from Archer and Josh Tongue, he remained steadfast. Earlier in the day, Mohammad Abbas made headlines by finally achieving a coveted spot on the Lord’s honours boards with figures of 5-57, having previously come close with several four-wicket hauls.
Abbas’s achievement was celebrated by his teammates as he kissed the turf in joy, marking a significant milestone in his career. The match continues to unfold as England seeks to seal the series, with Robinson leading the charge against a beleaguered Pakistan side.
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