London, August 31: Pakistan faced a significant defeat against England in the second Test, losing by 194 runs. Chasing a target of 389 runs, Pakistan’s entire batting lineup collapsed for just 194 runs in their second innings.
Captain Babar Azam held the batters accountable for the loss. After the match, he stated, “We won the toss and chose to bowl first due to the overcast conditions, hoping to take advantage of them. We utilized the conditions well, taking early wickets and restricting them to 290 runs. However, our batting performance was below expectations. Our bowlers did exceptionally well again in the second innings, particularly Mohammad Abbas, who took five wickets. Yet, our batting faltered once more. Saud Shakeel showed his class and dedication while playing.”
Babar praised England’s performance, deeming them deserving winners. He commended Mohammad Abbas for his five-wicket haul at Lord’s, saying, “Yes, it was fantastic. Taking five wickets at Lord’s is a memorable moment for him.” Reflecting on the team’s back-to-back losses in the series, Babar noted, “To be honest, we are trying to give our best in both batting and bowling. We had an opportunity but failed to capitalize on it. We made some mistakes in both departments, so we will aim to improve in the final match.”
With this defeat in the second Test, Pakistan has lost the Test series. In the first Test, England had dominated, winning by an innings and 103 runs. Remarkably, this marks the in Test cricket history that Pakistan has been bowled out for less than 200 runs in four consecutive innings. The third and final Test match will take place at Edgbaston starting September 9.