Mohammad Abbas treble rocks England on day one at Lord's
Mohammad Abbas ripped through England with three wickets for four runs in 16 balls on day one of the second Test at Lord's, reducing the hosts to 80-4 at lunch. The veteran seamer's 3-34 spell, including Joe Root for four, handed Pakistan early control after Babar Azam elected to bowl under grey skies.
Key Takeaways
- Mohammad Abbas took 3-34 in eight overs, including a burst of three wickets for four runs in 16 balls.
- England slumped to 36-3, then 80-4 at lunch, with Root dismissed for four.
- Pakistan captain Babar Azam returned, won the toss, and chose to bowl after a rain delay.
- Harry Brook (15) fell to Mohammad Ali before lunch; Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence rebuilt later.
How did Mohammad Abbas dismantle England's top order?
After rain delayed the start by more than an hour, Abbas struck early. Emilio Gay glanced a leg-side ball and was caught by diving wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Ben Duckett fell for 17, lbw on review to an Abbas nip-backer—his 900th first-class wicket, according to Cricinfo.
Joe Root lasted just four runs. Abbas pinned him on the back leg with Rizwan standing up to the stumps; Root was so clearly lbw he did not review. The collapse left England 36-3 and Pakistan smelling blood under the Lord's clouds.
Why does this matter for the second Test?
Pakistan were thrashed by an innings and 103 runs in the first Test at Headingley. Babar Azam, back as the only change after a finger injury, called correctly on a green-tinged pitch. England were unchanged.
Abbas, 36 and seasoned in English conditions, was player of the match at Lord's in 2018 with eight wickets. His morning spell flipped the series mood and answered the day's top question: who owned the new ball? Follow related market and sports buzz via our Fintech & Crypto Alerts hub.
What happened after the early collapse?
Jordan Cox and Harry Brook briefly stemmed the damage with a rapid stand. Shortly before lunch, Brook was clean bowled for 15 by Mohammad Ali, a delivery that jagged back sharply. At lunch England were 80-4, with Abbas on 3-34 from eight overs.
Into the afternoon session, England reached about 98 for four, with Cox and Dan Lawrence at the crease, according to live updates from France 24 and Cricinfo. Pakistan still held the morning's initiative.
Who set the tone at the toss?
Babar Azam replaced Salman Ali Agha as captain and opted to field on an overcast morning. That call looked shrewd once Mohammad Abbas found seam movement both ways, leaving England's top order exposed and the second Test firmly tilted toward Pakistan on day one.