England is already on the verge of a series win, leading Pakistan by a massive 261 runs on just the second day of the second Test at Lord’s. This isn’t just about a lead, it’s about sheer dominance from England’s seam quartet that has completely overwhelmed the visitors.
England’s Seamers Just Tore Through Pakistan’s Batting
Ollie Robinson just continued his sensational comeback summer, grabbing an unbelievable 4-11. Jofra Archer was right there with him, bowling with electrifying pace for his 3-26. Those two, backed up by Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson, put on an absolute masterclass. Pakistan couldn’t handle it, getting hustled out for a paltry 110. Seriously, only Azan Awais managed to pass 20 runs, hitting 46. After him, *extras* was the next highest scorer. That’s a brutal stat, telling you everything you need to know about how the bowlers just tore through them. Pakistan was already missing Imam-ul-Haq due to injury, but honestly, it probably wouldn’t have mattered much with this kind of bowling. Pakistan’s highest total on this tour so far is just 171, and they haven’t even managed to bat for 50 overs. That’s a tough look.
Gay’s Opportunity and the Dreaded Weather Forecast
England started strong, extending their first innings to 290, which gave them a 180-run advantage. Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue tacked on a crucial 42 runs on Friday morning, taking their 10th-wicket partnership to a solid 47. That momentum carried right into their second innings, even though they had a bit of a wobble starting 13-2. Emilio Gay and Joe Root steadied the ship with a 47-run stand. Root eventually went for 24, caught lbw by Mohammad Ali, continuing a frustrating trend for the captain against seam bowlers. But hey, Harry Brook overturned an lbw shout first ball from the same bowler, so you take the small wins. Gay, still batting at 30 not out, has a real shot to silence some of those questions about his spot in the side with a big score.
Now England sits at 81-3, with that massive 261-run lead. The only thing that might slow them down? Saturday’s weather forecast. It’s looking horrendous, maybe even a complete washout. But even if they have to wait, England has more than enough time and control to wrap this victory and the series over the bank holiday weekend. You can just feel the series win coming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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