England defeated Pakistan by 194 runs in the second Test at Lord’s on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a huge target of 389 runs, Pakistan were bowled out for 194 despite a brilliant 97 from Saud Shakeel. Opener Imam-ul-Haq did not bat in the second innings because of an injury.
Pakistan had a poor start to their chase. Opening batter Azan Awais was dismissed on the third ball of the fifth over when Ollie Robinson trapped him leg before wicket for six off 14 balls, including one boundary.
Robinson struck again on the final ball of the same over, dismissing Abdullah Shafique for a duck. Pakistan were then reduced to 14-3 after 7.1 overs when Jofra Archer dismissed captain Babar Azam for six off eight balls. Babar hit one boundary during his innings.
Pakistan showed some resistance in the second session as Shakeel played an impressive innings and completed his 11th Test half-century.
The left-hander also shared an important 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Shan Masood. Shakeel played positively, rotated the strike well and kept the scoreboard moving alongside Shan.
However, the partnership ended when Robinson struck for the third time in the innings, dismissing Shan for 26. Shan hit two boundaries during his stay at the crease.
Pakistan suffered another setback soon after when Robinson claimed his fourth wicket by trapping Mohammad Rizwan leg before wicket for one off nine balls. The visitors were left struggling at 115-5 after 32.5 overs.
Ali Usman then provided some support to Shakeel, and the pair added 31 runs before Archer dismissed Usman for 16.
Shakeel continued to fight despite wickets falling at the other end and looked set to score his fifth Test century.
However, he fell short of the milestone when Josh Tongue dismissed him for 97 off 122 balls. His innings included 13 fours and two sixes.
Tongue then claimed his second wicket with a slower delivery that dismissed Khurram Shahzad for nine off 13 balls, including one boundary. He then removed the final batter, Mohammad Ali, for eight to seal England’s victory.
Imam did not come out to bat because of his injury.
For England, Robinson took four wickets, while Tongue and Archer claimed three and two wickets, respectively.
Earlier, England resumed the day at 177-7 and were bowled out for 208 in 54.2 overs in their second innings.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Abbas led an impressive bowling performance, claiming his eighth five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
The third and final Test will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham from Sept. 9-13.
