England fell to 248 for 9 at Lord's, a ground where Pakistan often beat them.

What happened

Mohammad Abbas took four wickets on the opening day of the second Test at Lord’s, three of them before lunch, as England closed on 248 for 9 after slipping to 80 for 4.

England were 80 for 4 at lunch on the first day. They batted first at Lord’s on 27 August. Mohammad Abbas took three wickets for 34 runs in the morning and a fourth later. Jordan Cox made 55 and Jamie Smith 61 to steady the innings. Gus Atkinson was 34 not out when bad light ended play with England on 248 for 9.

Pakistan also lost four wickets. They reached 63 for 4 inside 23 overs on the second morning, with Azan Awais not out on 26. The match is due to finish on 31 August.

England lead the series 1-0. They won the first Test at Headingley by an innings and 103 runs, and the third and final Test at Edgbaston starts on 9 September. The tour has also had trouble off the field: police are investigating an incident involving England bowler Brydon Carse.

Sources: Al Jazeera (2), ESPNcricinfo Lord's records

The Pattern

Pakistan have won five of the nine Tests at Lord’s since 1982. Lord’s is meant to be hard for visiting teams, but against Pakistan it has been the opposite. The wins came across very different eras, with different players, pitches and balls.

The Read

England are still favourites in this match. They come from an innings win at Headingley and have the deeper bowling. Against a bowler as accurate as Abbas, 248 on the first day at Lord’s is a normal score, not a collapse. Pakistan at 63 for 4 have already given up the advantage once. England’s two wins at this ground in these years both came by an innings, which is what happens when their fast bowlers get a pitch that helps them. Only two of the last nine Tests here ended in a draw, so a result is very likely.

The doubt is the ground itself. Pakistan have won more Tests at Lord’s than anywhere else in England. The wins came in every era and with every generation of bowlers, which points to the conditions more than the players. Abbas has already shown the ball moves. If England’s last batsmen cannot push past 260 and Pakistan’s middle order survives the new ball, any first-innings lead for Pakistan puts England’s second innings on a fifth-day pitch. Rain that takes a full day out of the match would make a draw likely and leave the series as it stands.