LONDON: England wrapped up a resounding 194-run victory over Pakistan at Lord’s, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and securing their first home Test series triumph in two years.

Pacer Ollie Robinson once again proved to be the cornerstone of the English attack. The Sussex seamer followed his devastating first-innings figures of 4 for 11 with a clinical four for 24 on Day 4, taking his match haul to eight wickets and earning Player of the Match honors.

Robinson struck early in Pakistan’s second innings, removing both openers in four balls to leave the tourists reeling. When Jofra Archer trapped Pakistan captain Babar Azam shortly after, the visitors found themselves in dire straits at 14 for 3 while chasing an improbable target of 389.

Pakistan offered spirited afternoon resistance through Saud Shakeel and skipper Shan Masood, who assembled a stubborn 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Masood was eventually dismissed for 26, trapped LBW by Robinson following a successful English review.

Shakeel, however, launched a brilliant counter-attack, striking 13 boundaries and two sixes in a fluent 97. His brave innings came to a heartbreaking end just three runs short of a well-deserved century when he hooked Josh Tongue deep to Harry Brook, drawing warm applause from the Lord’s crowd as he departed.

With injured opener Imam-ul-Haq unable to bat, England needed only nine wickets to finish the contest. Tongue completed the victory by dismissing Mohammad Ali, wrapping up Pakistan’s second innings for 194.

The victory builds on England’s dominant performance in the series opener at Headingley, where they won by an innings and 103 runs. The hosts will now look to complete a 3-0 series sweep when the third and final Test begins at Edgbaston on September 9.

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