England defeated Pakistan by 194 runs on the fourth day of the second cricket test at Lord’s on Sunday, according to reports from The Associated Press. The victory marks England’s first test series win since December 2024, achieved with a match to spare under the leadership of captain Joe Root and interim coach Marcus Trescothick.
Match Summary and Final Day Collapse
Chasing a daunting target of 389, Pakistan was bowled out for 194 approximately 45 minutes after tea on Sunday, according to The Associated Press. The innings extended Pakistan’s streak of failing to cross the 200-run threshold during the series. England was required to take only 18 wickets in the match because Pakistan opening batter Imam-ul-Haq was unable to bat after tearing his left calf muscle on the first day, as reported by The Associated Press.
Saud Shakeel provided the primary resistance for the tourists, scoring an agonizing 97 before being caught on the boundary by Josh Tongue. Shakeel and Shan Masood formed a 97-run partnership that stalled England for nearly four hours after Pakistan slipped to 14-3. Seamer Ollie Robinson eventually broke the partnership by trapping Masood lbw for 26, before quickly removing Mohammad Rizwan for his 99th test wicket.
Ollie Robinson’s Match-Winning Bowling Performance
Ollie Robinson led the England bowling attack with eight wickets in the match, returning figures of 4-24 on Sunday to finish with match figures of 8-35 in 27 overs, according to The Associated Press. Robinson was named player of the match for the third consecutive test.
“It helps to have three other guys who bowl at 90 mph, it allows me to just dot up at one end and build the pressure,” Robinson told the BBC, as cited by The Associated Press. Robinson’s summer output reached 23 wickets across three tests at an average of 8.
Series Context and Upcoming Fixtures
The win gives England a successful start to the post-Bazball era under Root and Trescothick ahead of Stephen Fleming’s arrival as coach next month. “It does feel good and fully deserved as well,” Root told the BBC, according to The Associated Press. “The guys have been excellent.”
Pakistan has now lost 10 of its last 11 away tests. The third and final match of the series is scheduled to begin on September 9 in Birmingham, where England will pursue a 3-0 series sweep.
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