England absolutely steamrolled Pakistan with a 194-run victory in the second Test at Lord’s, securing a series win for the first time since 2024. This squad didn’t just win; they outclassed Pakistan again, stamping their authority all over the pitch.
England’s Dominators and Dips
Man, it’s turning into Ollie Robinson’s summer, no doubt about it. Our seamer earned a blistering 9 rating after bagging another eight wickets. Since his recall, he’s grabbed 23 wickets in just three Tests at an insane average of 8.34. The dude is relentless. Jamie Smith also had his best performance in a year, getting an 8 rating for his perfectly played 61 in tough first-innings conditions, and his glovework behind the stumps has leveled up. Jofra Archer was brilliant, snatching three wickets in the first innings, and his bouncer to dismiss Babar Azam on day four was pure vintage, a true throwback to his fearsome debut. Josh Tongue got a 7, taking the crucial wickets of Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique early in the first innings and even bumping his Test high score to 30 not out. Dan Lawrence showed some serious fight, hitting a useful 54 in the second innings after a rough 17 in the first. Jordan Cox kept it composed for a 55 in the first innings, making a strong case to stay in the lineup.
But let’s be real, not everyone was on fire. Captain Joe Root got a 5 rating, with scores of four and 24, falling lbw in both innings. Seven of his nine Test dismissals this summer have been exactly like that. It’s not a crisis, but it’s getting close, right? Ben Duckett had another quiet Test, only scoring 18 runs total, and his second-innings dismissal was just plain poor. Gus Atkinson, one of the pace quartet, is struggling for wickets, with only one scalp in the whole series, despite bowling quickly on day four.
Pakistan’s Struggles and a Lone Bright Spot
Pakistan just couldn’t hang. Abdullah Shafique, who was their best batter in the first Test, went missing entirely with a five in the first innings and a duck in the second, earning a measly 2 rating. Babar Azam also got a 2, and honestly, the best thing he did all match was win the toss. Imam-ul-Haq? A 1 rating. He didn’t bat, didn’t bowl, and dropped a catch. Yikes. Khurram Shahzad was expensive and only managed three wickets.
Amidst the chaos, Muhammad Abbas was a beast, getting an 8 rating for his nine wickets in the match, including a stellar 5-57 in the second innings that put him on the honors board. He was a constant threat. Saud Shakeel also showed some fight, deserving his century. Azan Awais played nicely for 46 in the first innings before Robinson got him in the second. But for most of the squad, they just couldn’t find their footing at Lord’s.
England’s series victory feels huge, a statement win after a couple of years. For England, the next Test at Edgbaston will be big for guys like Emilio Gay, who was unlucky at Lord’s. Can Root turn his form around? Will Robinson keep this unbelievable summer rolling? You know we’ll be watching every single ball to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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