LONDON (MNN); England defeated Pakistan by 194 runs in the second Test at Lord’s on Sunday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a daunting 389-run target, Pakistan were bowled out for 194, despite a fighting 97 from Saud Shakeel. Opener Imam-ul-Haq did not bat in the second innings after suffering an injury.
Pakistan’s chase got off to a disastrous start. Jofra Archer and Ollie Robinson quickly exposed the visitors’ top order, with Robinson dismissing Azan Awais for six and then removing Abdullah Shafique for a duck in the same over.
Captain Babar Azam was the next to depart, scoring six before Archer trapped him lbw, leaving Pakistan struggling at 14 for three after just 7.1 overs.
Shakeel and Shan Masood then steadied the innings with a determined partnership. Shakeel played positively and brought up his 11th Test half-century, while the pair added 97 runs for the fourth wicket.
Their partnership ended when Robinson dismissed Masood for 26. The England pacer struck again shortly afterwards, trapping Mohammad Rizwan lbw for one, leaving Pakistan at 115-5.
Ali Usman then joined Shakeel and the pair added 31 runs before Archer dismissed Usman for 16.
Shakeel continued his lone battle as wickets fell around him, coming within three runs of a well-deserved Test century. Josh Tongue eventually ended his innings at 97 off 122 balls, including 13 fours and two sixes.
Tongue then dismissed Khurram Shahzad for nine and Mohammad Ali for eight to complete England’s victory.
Robinson was England’s leading bowler with four wickets, while Tongue claimed three and Archer two.
Earlier, England resumed their second innings at 177-7 and were bowled out for 208 in 54.2 overs.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Abbas produced an outstanding bowling performance, claiming his eighth career five-wicket haul.
The third and final Test will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham from September 9 to 13.
