England registered a 194-run win in the second Test of the three-match ICC World Test Championship series over Pakistan to take unassailable 2-0 lead here at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Set a target of 389 runs to level the series, Pakistan were bowled out for 194 in 50.5 overs. Saud Shakeel put up some resistance with a fluent 97 that included 13 fours and two sixes. He was only supported by Shan Masood. The duo rebuilt the innings from 14-3 with a solid 97-run stand off 139 balls.
England struck early. Robinson’s new ball burst delivered the wickets of Azan Awais and Abdullah Shafique in a space of just four balls in the fifth over of the chase. 13 balls later Jofra Archer hurried Babar Azam with a short delivery to induce a leading edge to Jordan Cox at third slip with Pakistan 14-3. Saud and Shan then took Pakistan to lunch unscathed at 53-3 in 17 overs. But Robinson again landed a game-changing blow just when the fourth-wicket stand was about to hit three-digit mark as he pinned Shan leg-before.
With Imam not available to bat, Pakistan lost six for 83 as Saud became the seventh wicket to fall following a string of boundaries that took him into the 90s. Down the order, Ali Usman’s 44-ball 16 halted the inevitable for 65 balls. England were inspired by player of the match Ollie Robinson who backed up his first innings returns of 4-11 with 4-24 in the second innings. He was backed up by Josh Tongue, who snared three for 46, while Archer accounted for two batters.
Earlier, England began the day from overnight score of 177-7 in 46.5 overs and were dismissed for 208 in 54.2 overs. Abbas picked up the wickets of Dan Lawrence and Robinson to finish with figures of 22-3-57-5 taking his match tally to nine wickets. It was also his eight Test five-for as he became the seventh Pakistan bowler to get his name on the Lord’s honours board.
Tongue was run out for 12 by Babar before Pakistan began their chase of the 389-run target. The two teams will now face each other in the third Test at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham from Wednesday, 9 September.
Player of the match – Ollie Robinson (England)
