Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas tore through England’s top order on the opening day of the second Test at Lord’s, reducing the hosts to 248 for 9 at the close after bad light stopped play early on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Abbas finished the day with figures of 4 for 56, including the prized wicket of Joe Root, while fellow seamer Mohammad Ali struck twice more to leave England’s lower order fighting for survival against the second new ball on Friday morning.
A Tense Toss and a Bold Decision
Pakistan captain won the toss at Lord’s and opted to bowl first on a pitch offering early seam movement under cloud cover, a decision that looked instantly vindicated as Abbas found consistent lateral movement with the Dukes ball. England, chasing a series-leveling win after going 1-0 down in the opening Test, lost regular wickets through the middle session before Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue dug in unbeaten at the close, on 34 and 1 respectively.
Root Falls Again to Abbas
Joe Root’s dismissal was the day’s pivotal moment, with Abbas finding enough seam movement to catch the edge of England’s most prolific run-scorer, who had entered the match under pressure to convert starts into a series-defining century. Root’s wicket triggered a mid-innings collapse in which Harry Brook also departed to Mohammad Ali shortly before the tea interval, swinging momentum firmly toward the tourists.
Cox and Smith’s Rearguard
England’s recovery effort centered on a resistant partnership lower in the order, with Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox combining to add valuable runs and steady the innings after the top-order collapse threatened to send England below 150. Their stand bought time and pushed the total past 200, though neither could carry the innings deep enough to avoid Pakistan’s bowlers returning with the second new ball.
Series Stakes
England enter this Test having lost the series opener, putting Ben Stokes’ side under pressure to level the contest at Lord’s, a venue where England have historically fared well but where Pakistan’s seam attack — built around the experienced Abbas and the raw pace of Mohammad Ali — has troubled home batters throughout the tour. A Pakistan win at Lord’s would mark a rare series lead for the tourists on English soil and reshape the narrative heading into the remaining Tests.
What the Scorecard Shows
Play was interrupted by bad light before the full 90 overs were bowled, with the umpires taking players off in fading conditions typical of a London August evening. England’s 248 for 9 leaves the tail exposed to Pakistan’s new-ball attack when play resumes, and a total under 300 would represent a below-par first-innings score on a surface that, while offering seam movement, has not been rated as especially difficult for batting once the shine wears off.
Looking Ahead to Day Two
England’s ability to add quick runs with the tail on Friday morning could prove decisive in setting a target Pakistan’s own top order — anchored by openers who have shown patience against the moving ball earlier in the tour — must then chase down. With four days of play still to come and weather forecasts suggesting drier conditions through the weekend, both teams have scope to shift momentum, but Pakistan’s bowlers head into day two firmly on top after a disciplined display with the new ball.