Josh Tongue's Impact Leaves Pakistan Reeling at Lord's

On a grey, tense morning at Lord’s, England clawed, scrapped and finally roared their way back into a Test that threatened to drift away from them. By the time the players walked off for lunch, Pakistan were 16-2 in reply to England’s 290, and the old ground had that familiar hum: England’s quicks were hunting.

At the centre of it all stood Josh Tongue, the last man out with the bat and the last man to strike with the ball before the interval. His fingerprints were all over the session.

Tail wags, Pakistan pay

England began on 248-9, one good ball away from a modest total. Pakistan had every right to expect a swift finish. Instead, they ran into resistance.

Tongue, officially the No. 11, played like anything but. He finished 30 not out, stubborn and increasingly assured, sharing a last-wicket stand of 47 with Gus Atkinson that dragged England up to 290 and visibly irritated the visitors.

Atkinson was the aggressor, punching 45 from 46 balls, the kind of innings that shifts a dressing room’s mood. He drove, pulled and forced Pakistan’s quicks to keep coming again and again. His stay ended when he launched Ali Usman down the ground, only to pick out Mohammad Ali waiting in the deep. The frustration on Pakistan’s faces told its own story: the tail had done damage.

Those extra 42 runs from the overnight total changed the feel of the morning. Instead of Pakistan strolling in with the upper hand, they walked out to bat with a hint of pressure already building.

Archer ignites Lord’s

An awkward hour before lunch can define a day at Lord’s. England knew it. Jofra Archer made sure Pakistan knew it too.

Archer, rhythm locked in and pace up, tore in with a spell that crackled. One ball hit 91mph, another jagged, another climbed. Shan Masood, trying to impose himself, pushed at a rapid delivery and could only feather it through to Jamie Smith. The catch was clean, the noise instant. Pakistan 1 down early, Archer pumped up, England’s slips suddenly alive.

The pressure did not relent. Lines tightened, fields closed in, and Pakistan’s top order looked increasingly wary against the new ball that seemed to have plenty to say.

Tongue strikes again

England thought they had another when Atkinson, now with ball in hand, had Azan Awais nicking behind. The appeal was full-blooded, the finger went up, but Pakistan reviewed and technology came to the rescue. No edge. Awais survived, and for a moment it felt as if the momentum might slip.

Tongue ended that thought.

Brought back for a second spell before the interval, he went hunting for Abdullah Shafique. The opener, looking to drive, pushed at a ball that just kissed the edge on its way through. Initially not given, England reviewed. This time the replay told a different story: a clear deflection, decision overturned, Shafique gone.

Pakistan, who had hoped simply to get through to lunch, suddenly found themselves 16-2 and under serious scrutiny.

Game on at the Home of Cricket

England’s 290 may not be imposing on paper, but context matters. A tail-end rally, Archer’s lightning burst and Tongue’s double contribution with bat and ball have tilted the balance.

Pakistan now face a long afternoon with their middle order exposed early and an England pace attack sensing blood. At Lord’s, with the ball talking and the crowd engaged, that can feel like a very long way back.