LONDON: Mohammad Abbas took four wickets as Pakistan dominated England on a rain-affected opening day of the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday, with bad light bringing play to an early close with the hosts 248/9.
Only 56 overs were bowled after intermittent rain delayed the start, before the umpires ended play about an hour ahead of schedule. Gus Atkinson was unbeaten on 34 and Josh Tongue on one when the players left the field.
2nd Test – Pakistan tour of England 2026
Stumps Day 1
England 248-9 (56 ov)
Scorecard: https://t.co/mWpBWmFAuf#ENGvPAK #PakistanCricket
— PCB Live Scores (@TheRealPCB_Live) August 27, 2026
Abbas finished with 4-56 from 15 overs, while fellow paceman Mohammad Ali claimed 3-67. Khurram Shahzad took one wicket as Pakistan’s seamers capitalised on helpful bowling conditions.
Abbas strikes early for Pakistan
Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to field on a green-tinged pitch under grey skies. Babar returned to lead the side after missing the first Test with a finger injury, replacing stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha.
England’s opening pair of Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay made a brisk start, putting on 21 runs inside five overs. Abbas then dismissed Gay, who edged a delivery behind the wicket to Mohammad Rizwan.
The veteran seamer struck again in his next over when Duckett was trapped lbw for 17 off 20 balls. England were 26/2.
Joe Root joined Jordan Cox but their partnership lasted only 10 runs before Abbas trapped the England captain lbw for four from 13 deliveries.
Harry Brook came in and briefly steadied the innings with Cox. The pair added 31 for the fourth wicket before Mohammad Ali bowled Brook for 15 with a delivery that jagged back. England went to lunch at 80/4.
Cox and Smith lead recovery
Dan Lawrence and Cox attempted to rebuild the innings after lunch. Lawrence survived an early opportunity when Shan Masood dropped a seemingly routine catch at mid-wicket.
Lawrence’s innings ended on 17, however, when he set off for a single before being sent back by Cox. Masood’s accurate throw from mid-wicket allowed Rizwan to complete the run-out.
Cox reached his half-century from 88 balls, including seven fours, as he and wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith added 67 for the sixth wicket.
Smith brought up his fifty from 63 balls before the partnership was broken when substitute fielder Salman Ali Agha held a superb catch at second slip off Shahzad.
Well, that is sensational 👏 pic.twitter.com/TnMfjGCBzy
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 27, 2026
Cox made 55 from 105 deliveries, also striking seven boundaries, while Smith top-scored for England with 61 from 80 balls, including 10 fours.
Pakistan finish strongly
England resumed the final session at 180/5, but Pakistan’s pace attack quickly regained control.
Shahzad removed Cox with the score on 187, ending a stubborn innings that had helped England recover from their early collapse.
Smith then added 35 with Atkinson before Ali bowled the wicketkeeper-batter in the 53rd over. Ali struck again two balls later, removing Ollie Robinson for a duck and leaving England 222/8.
Atkinson and Jofra Archer briefly frustrated Pakistan with a 21-run ninth-wicket partnership. Archer hit Abbas for a straight six before the seamer had the final say, bowling him for 14 to claim his fourth wicket.
Bad light then brought the day’s play to an end, leaving Atkinson and Tongue at the crease.
Pakistan’s improved performance came after a difficult opening Test at Headingley, where England won by an innings and 103 runs.
Pakistan were dismissed for 171 and 135 in that match after losing the toss and batting in difficult conditions.
The teams also made only one change each from the opening Test. Pakistan brought back Babar after his injury, while England dropped fast bowler Brydon Carse from the squad following a late-night drinking incident.
