ENG vs PAK 2nd Test Day 4: Muhammad Abbas Takes 5 Before Babar Falls Cheaply

LORD’S: A masterclass in vintage seam bowling collided with a familiar top-order batting collapse on a pulsating ENG vs PAK 2nd Test Day 4 at the Home of Cricket. 

Despite a historic five-wicket haul from Muhammad Abbas that earned him a coveted spot on the Lord’s honours board, Pakistan is in early trouble after their daunting fourth-innings chase of 389 runs began in disastrous fashion.

Abbas Masters the Slopes

The morning session commenced with England looking to expand on their formidable overnight lead. Resuming at 177/7 under overcast skies, the hosts found runs hard to come by as Muhammad Abbas extracted sharp lateral movement off the Lord's turf. 

Operating with meticulous accuracy, Abbas targeted the stumps relentlessly. He broke England's resistance by cleaning up the dangerous Dan Lawrence for 54 with a magnificent delivery that kept low. Shortly after, Abbas induced a sharp outside edge from Ollie Robinson, which was safely gathered by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.The wicket secured Abbas spectacular final figures of 5-57, adding his name to the iconic Lord’s honours board and bowling England out for 208.

Pakistan in Early Trouble

With a target of 389 dangling before them, Pakistan's top order required absolute discipline against an aggressive English bowling unit. Instead, the tourists crumbled almost immediately under intense pressure. 

Opening the batting, Azan Awais was pinned completely plumb in front of his stumps by an incoming delivery from Ollie Robinson for just 6 runs. Left with no choice but to review, tracking technology confirmed the ball was crashing into the leg stump. Things went from bad to worse just a few deliveries later. Abdullah Shafique was completely outclassed by Robinson’s unrelenting line, prodding defensively without any foot movement. The ball jagged past his defense and clipped the off stump, sending Shafique back to the pavilion for a duck.

Babar Falls Cheaply

Any lingering hopes of a historic rescue act evaporated when Babar Azam was dismissed shortly after. Facing a blistering, high-velocity spell from Jofra Archer, Babar struggled to adapt to the immense bounce and extreme movement. Looking to break the shackles on 6 runs, he pushed aggressively at a fuller, away-swinging delivery. The ball took a thick outside edge and flew straight into the hands of the slip cordon. Babar's swift departure left Pakistan reeling at a catastrophic 14/3, effectively extinguishing the tourists' middle-order resistance and putting England on the absolute precipice of a series-clinching victory.

As the players headed into the session interval, the English slip cordon was buzzing while Pakistan's dressing room looked shell-shocked. While Abbas's bowling display remains a monumental individual triumph, it will take a historic batting effort to rescue the visitors from defeat.