Pakistan’s batting crisis deepened further as they were bundled out for 110 in 37.2 overs on the second day at Lord’s, allowing England to tighten their grip on the second Test at stumps on Friday.

After England’s last pair of Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue added 47 runs for the final wicket, including 42 on the second morning to lift the home side from their overnight 248 for nine to 290 in 66.4 overs, Pakistan once again exposed their technical deficiencies, poor shot selection and lack of application against the moving ball.

They capitulated in less than 38 overs to concede a potentially decisive 180-run first-innings lead.

England added further misery for a Pakistan side that has won five of its last nine Tests at Lord’s, reaching 81 for three at stumps to extend their overall lead to 261, with seven wickets in hand and three days remaining.

Pakistan’s 110 all-out was their lowest total since they scored 89 against Australia in the second Test in Perth in December 2023. It was also the eighth time in 38 innings that Pakistan had failed to reach 150 — a stark reflection of a fragile, brittle and increasingly ill-equipped batting line-up that has repeatedly capitulated against different opponents and in varying conditions.

Shan Masood (1) and Abdullah Shafique (5) were caught at the wicket, while Babar Azam (8) was caught at second slip after being squared up by Tongue. Saud Shakeel (16) and Mohammad Rizwan (7) were trapped in front of the wickets.

The lower order, as has too often been the case, failed to wag. Ali Usman played on, Khurram Shahzad was caught at second slip and Mohammad Abbas was bowled while attempting to hit Jofra Archer out of Lord’s.

Imam-ul-Haq, who picked up a strain in his left calf, did not bat.

Azan Awais was the only positive news when the youngster scored 46 from 102 balls with seven fours. He was the eighth batter to be dismissed, caught hooking Robinson.

If it was Archer’s express pace that unsettled and rattled Pakistan’s batters, it was the controlled seam and swing bowling of Tongue and Ollie Robinson that once again exposed their limitations.

Robinson, bowling at around 125kph, finished with figures of 13-6-11-4, while Archer made the batters hop and jump before finishing with figures of 11.2-1-26-3. Tongue, who had earlier milked Pakistan’s bowlers while scoring 30 not out off 48 balls with four fours at No. 11, finished with 2-27.

After Pakistan’s bowlers had a rest of only 38 overs, they returned strongly and removed Ben Duckett and Jordan Cox with England’s score reading 13. Mohammad Ali then made it 60 for three when, for the second time in the match, Joe Root was pinned in front of the wicket.

Pakistan briefly saw light at the end of the tunnel when Harry Brook was adjudged lbw. However, the decision was overturned after replays confirmed that Brook had edged the ball on to his pads.

Like Pakistan’s batters, the match has not been a good one for umpires Paul Reiffel and Allahuddien Paleker, whose 11 collective decisions have been overturned to date.

Pakistan’s bowlers, nevertheless, showed considerably more fight than their batters. But with England already 261 ahead and seven second-innings wickets remaining, the tourists face a monumental task to prevent the hosts from taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Scores in brief — Day 2 of 5, Lord’s

ENGLAND (overnight 248-9, 56 overs) 290 all-out, 66.4 overs (Jamie Smith 61, Jordan Cox 55, Gus Atkinson 45, Josh Tongue 30 not out; Mohammad Abbas 4-73, Mohammad Ali 3-86) and 81-3, 22 overs (Emilio Gay 30 not out, Joe Root 24; Khurram Shahzad 2-26)

PAKISTAN 110 all-out, 37.2 overs (Azan Awais 46, Saud Shakeel 16, Extras 20; Ollie Robinson 4-11, Jofra Archer 3-26, Josh Tongue 2-27)