Josh Tongue's Late Heroics Propel England at Lord’s
On a grey, restless morning at Lord’s, England found an unlikely heartbeat in their No. 11 and then let their fast bowlers rip. By lunch on day two, Pakistan were 16-2 in reply to England’s 290, jolted by a hostile burst from Jofra Archer and floored by the final ball before the interval from Josh Tongue.
It felt like a different match from the one that had drifted towards Pakistan’s control the previous evening.
Tail wags, Pakistan made to wait
England began on 248-9, one blow away from what looked a modest total. Pakistan had the new ball, the initiative, and the slope. They left the field an hour later wearing a very different expression.
Tongue, officially the last man, batted like anything but. He finished 30 not out, stubborn and increasingly confident, dragging England from the brink with a last-wicket stand worth 47 alongside Gus Atkinson. Every extra run tightened the screw on Pakistan.
Atkinson, resuming on 45 from 46 balls, kept swinging with intent. He had already bruised the attack the previous evening and continued to punch back, only to fall just short of a maiden Test fifty. Attempting to go straight once more, he drilled Ali Usman down the ground, but this time picked out Mohammad Ali, waiting and grateful. Out for 45, but the damage was done.
Those 42 runs added in the morning session changed the mood. Pakistan had expected to mop up quickly and stride in with confidence. Instead, they walked off knowing England’s tail had just taken a chunk out of their plans.
Archer ignites, Pakistan rocked
Then came the awkward hour.
Pakistan’s openers walked out into a spell that felt less like a new innings and more like a continuation of England’s surge. Archer, bristling with pace, hit 91mph and hit his lengths hard. Shan Masood tried to ride it. He couldn’t.
One ball jagged just enough, at just the wrong time for the Pakistan captain. Masood pushed, edged, and Jamie Smith did the rest behind the stumps. Early breakthrough. Archer roared, Lord’s stirred, and Pakistan’s reply started on a wobble.
Abdullah Shafique tried to settle things, but England sensed blood. Atkinson thought he had Azan Awais nicking behind, only for Pakistan to overturn the decision with a successful review. A brief release, a reminder that this contest still had room for fine margins.
The reprieve didn’t last long.
Tongue returns, and strikes
As the session ticked towards lunch, England turned back to Tongue. He had already hurt Pakistan with the bat; now he came hunting with the ball.
Shafique, looking to drive, pushed at one he didn’t quite reach. The edge was faint, the appeal loud. Initially turned down, England rolled the dice. The review lit up in their favour, the technology confirming the nick. Shafique gone, Tongue wheeling away, Pakistan suddenly 16-2.
The last ball before lunch, and it landed like a body blow.
From 248-9 to a position of real authority, England had wrested control of the second Test in a single, relentless session. Pakistan will return after the interval needing not just runs, but a reset of their nerve, against an attack that smells opportunity on a pitch and a day now tilted firmly England’s way.
