England fight back to reach 248-9 against Pakistan at Lord’s

Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox mounted England’s key resistance as the hosts reached 248-9 against Pakistan on a rain-delayed and bad-light-shortened opening day of the second Test at Lord’s. Smith made 61 and Cox added 55 after England had slipped to 120-5, before Gus Atkinson’s unbeaten 34 gave the home side further substance by the close.

Pakistan’s bowlers ensured England never gained complete control in damp, gloomy conditions. Muhammad Abbas returned 4-56 and Mohammad Ali took three wickets, but the tourists also dropped three catches on a day when the contest remained finely balanced. Play began at 12:20 BST after rain, and the fading light eventually prevented England from beginning their bowling innings.

The total gives England something workable after a difficult start, though its true value will depend on how Pakistan respond and how much further rain affects the match. With the hosts seeking to win their first Test series since 2024, the match remains poised after a first day of sustained pressure from both sides.

Smith and Cox repair England’s innings

Pakistan captain Babar Azam, returning from a hand injury after missing the match at Headingley, called correctly at the toss. His fast-medium seam attack was well suited to the conditions and immediately offered a far greater challenge than Pakistan had managed in the previous Test.

Abbas was central to England’s early problems. In a spell of 16 balls, he took three wickets for four runs as Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett and captain Joe Root departed. Gay was caught down the leg side, while Root was again dismissed lbw with the wicketkeeper standing up to the stumps. Root had earlier been dropped at third slip by Imam-ul-Haq when on one, but the miss did not prove costly as he made four.

England’s problems deepened through a mixture of errors and sharp Pakistan bowling. Dan Lawrence was dropped by Shan Masood at mid-wicket on 10, then run out by the same fielder for 17 after a mix-up with Cox. Harry Brook was bowled while driving, one of three batters dismissed bowled by Ali as the seamer exploited movement down the Lord’s slope.

At 120-5, Cox and Smith produced the stand that changed the shape of England’s day. They added 67 for the sixth wicket, with Cox displaying patience as Pakistan restricted scoring after lunch. In only his third Test, Cox reached 55 before being removed by a remarkable catch from Salman Ali Agha, fielding as a substitute at second slip. Salman flew to his right to hold a one-handed chance off Khurram Shahzad.

Smith’s innings was more fluent. He was given a reprieve on 15 when wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan missed an edge off Ali, but Smith made the chance count. He dominated much of the scoring in his partnership with Cox, striking through the covers and working the ball off his pads before Ali bowled him for 61.

Pakistan retain an opening in tight Lord’s Test

Pakistan had opportunities to make England’s position still weaker. Along with the dropped chances to Imam and Masood, Rizwan’s miss of Smith was particularly significant. Pakistan’s slip fielders and wicketkeeper appeared to stand deep for much of the day, with several edges failing to carry through.

Nevertheless, Abbas and Ali kept the visitors firmly in the match. Abbas’s four wickets dismantled the top order, while Ali’s victims were Brook, Smith and Ollie Robinson. Pakistan’s improved control offered a sharp contrast to their performance in the first Test, and they will now have the chance to establish an advantage with the bat.

England were helped late in the day by Atkinson, whose 34 not out pushed the score towards 250. Under floodlights and a darkening sky, England may have hoped to bowl before stumps, but bad light ended play with one wicket still standing.

The Lord’s surface has been described as much better than the pitch used for England’s win over New Zealand in June, while rain is forecast across the next three days. That leaves both teams facing an important next phase: England need their bowlers to defend a hard-earned total, while Pakistan can turn their strong first-day bowling effort into a meaningful foothold in a tight second Test.