Josh Tongue’s Double Strike Leaves Pakistan Reeling at Lord’s
The last ball before lunch at Lord’s can be a cruel thing. On Friday, it belonged to Josh Tongue – and it left Pakistan gasping at 16-2, chasing England’s 290 all out on a tense second morning of the second Test.
Tongue, who had already annoyed Pakistan with the bat, returned for a second spell just before the interval and found the edge of Abdullah Shafique’s flashing drive. The appeal was instant, the finger stayed down, but England’s review lit up the big screen. A thin spike, a change of mood, and Shafique was gone. Pakistan trudged off with more questions than answers.
Tail-end defiance
The day had begun with England clinging to 248-9, their innings seemingly one blow from closure. Instead, Tongue and Gus Atkinson turned it into a small act of defiance.
Tongue, compact and stubborn, finished 30 not out. Atkinson, more expansive, cracked 45 from just 46 balls, counter-attacking in a last-wicket stand of 47 that dragged England to 290 and visibly irritated the visitors. Every extra run felt like a jab to Pakistan’s plans.
Atkinson’s innings ended with one stroke too many, driving Ali Usman straight down the ground to Mohammad Ali waiting in the deep. The partnership was broken, but the damage had been done: 42 runs added in the morning, momentum swinging back towards the hosts.
Archer ignites Lord’s
Pakistan walked out to bat facing an awkward hour before lunch. It quickly turned hostile.
Jofra Archer, rhythm smooth and pace up in the high 80s and low 90s, tore in from the Pavilion End. The radar read 91mph when he drew Shan Masood into a fatal nibble outside off stump. The ball kissed the edge and flew through to Jamie Smith, who did the rest. Archer wheeled away, Lord’s found its voice, and Pakistan were 1-1 with barely a chance to breathe.
The pressure did not relent. England’s quicks hunted for movement, hitting the pitch hard, forcing hesitant prods and hurried leaves. Pakistan’s top order, so often serene, looked edgy.
Atkinson thought he had his moment too, convinced he had Azan Awais caught behind. England went up, but Pakistan challenged. The review showed no edge, and Awais survived, a rare small victory in a session otherwise controlled by the bowlers.
Tongue strikes again
Just as Pakistan seemed to be inching towards the interval with only one wicket down, Tongue re-entered the attack. The change worked immediately.
Shafique, keen to break the shackles, went after a ball he might have left. The edge was faint, the on-field decision in his favour, but technology overruled. England’s second success sent them off the field with a spring in their step and Pakistan tottering at 16-2.
By lunch, the scorecard told a stark story. England, powered by their tail and a ferocious pace assault from Archer and Tongue, had seized control of the session. Pakistan, still 274 runs behind, now need their middle order to rebuild on a surface that is offering just enough to keep every ball interesting.
The morning belonged to England’s fast men. The rest of the Test may depend on whether Pakistan can wrest it back.
