England secured a comprehensive 194-run victory over Pakistan in the second Test at Lord's, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The win marked England's first multi-match Test series triumph in over a year, following their innings-and-103-run victory at Headingley.

Pakistan, set a daunting target of 389, were bowled out for 194 on the fourth day. Ollie Robinson was the architect of the win, claiming 4-24 in the second innings after his sensational 4-11 in the first, where Pakistan were skittled for just 110. Saud Shakeel offered resistance with a gritty 97, but his dismissal to Josh Tongue sealed Pakistan's fate.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam admitted his team's batting failures in the first innings, but praised Shakeel's class and determination in the second. Shakeel fell short of his fifth Test century, missing out on joining Mohammad Abbas on the Lord's honours board.

Robinson's performance highlighted the value of accuracy and movement over raw pace. The seamer took 23 wickets in three Tests this season at an astonishing average of 8.34, earning praise from captain Joe Root, who described him as "horrendous to face in these conditions."

The pitch at Lord's came under scrutiny after Emilio Gay's dismissal due to uneven bounce. The venue had previously been rated "unsatisfactory" by the ICC, and MCC has announced plans for a phased pitch-relaying program, though improvements may take years to materialize.

Source: www.aljazeera.com