Pakistan roar back through Abbas and Ali on day for seamers at Lord's

A seam-bowling masterclass by Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali helped Pakistan reduce England to 248/9 before bad light brought an early end to Day 1 of the second Test at Lord's.

Early Top-Order Blitz: After Pakistan chose to bowl under overcast skies, Abbas struck early by dismissing Emilio Gay, Ben Duckett (his 900th first-class wicket), and Joe Root to leave England reeling at 36/3.

Ali's Nip-Backers: Mohammad Ali produced high-quality seam bowling, castling Harry Brook and later returning to dismiss top-scorer Jamie Smith and Ollie Robinson with sharp incoming deliveries. Counter-Attacking Fifties: Jordan Cox (55) and Jamie Smith (61) rebuilt the innings for England, sharing a crucial 67-run sixth-wicket partnership after surviving initial pressure.

Late Strikes & Stumps: Abbas removed Jofra Archer shortly before bad light halted play at 6:10 PM, giving Pakistan full control as they look to bowl England out early on Day 2 without having had to bat in dim conditions.

Salman Agha, Pakistan's stand-in skipper at Headingley who made way in the XI for the return of captain Babar Azam, was stood at second slip as a substitute fielder when he took the most brilliant catch to end Cox's innings. Springing high to his right, Salman pulled the ball from the sky and twisted in mid-air before holding on despite a heavy landing and Cox was left to rue a limp drive at Khurrum Shahzad and what might have been.

With a sublime straight drive, Smith brought up his 10th boundary in an innings that promised much but then Ali delivered another brilliant nip-backer, not dissimilar to the one that accounted for Brook, and the result was the same, beating Smith's drive and clattering his stumps.

Ali made it two wickets in three balls with yet another, slightly fuller, one which came back sharply and through Robinson's defences.

England 248 for 9 (Smith 61, Cox 55, Abbas 4-56, Mohammad Ali 3-67) vs Pakistan