England were bowled out for 272, adding only 19 runs to their overnight score, as a Yasir Shah-inspired Pakistan took a first-innings lead of 67. It was also the second-best by any Pakistan bowler in a Lord’s Test innings after Mudassar Nazar’s 6 for 32 back in 1982.
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Shafiq was particularly impressive, striking eight boundaries in his 96-ball innings before missing a straight ball from Woakes and seeing his stumps re-arranged. It didn’t take long for Woakes to get his sixth wicket either, as he bowled Wahab Riaz for a second ball duck.
But leg-spinner Yasir Shah once again exposed England’s weakness against the turning ball as he took four key wickets in a 15-over spell either side of tea. Those traits were on show Friday and Shah, with Ahmed, now a member of Pakistan’s coaching staff, acting as translator told Sky Sports that his job was to support the fast bowlers.
It was his fellow left-armer Rahat Ali who made the only breakthrough, in an hour of batting for England – Hales caught at third slip pushing forward in defence to one that offered to swing up the slope.
But, Yasir turned the tide after lunch when Root miscued a sweep. Cook brought up his breezy fifty in just 60 balls in the 21st over.
There was talk of Misbah retiring after he led Pakistan to a series victory over Alastair Cook’s in the United Arab Emirates past year, but the veteran dropped down to the famous turf to perform press-ups after getting his name on the honours board. The legspinner played the aggressor in a valuable seventh-wicket stand worth 40 runs with Sarfraz that stretched Pakistan’s lead beyond 250.
While Amir’s attempts were going futile, the other chief weapon in Pakistan’s armoury – Yasir Shah – came to the visitors’ rescue. James Vince and the recalled Gary Ballance were both lbw as they each failed to “pick” Shah.
Taking the new ball with county team-mate Broad, he thought he had Shan Mashood’s wicket with his second delivery, only for the lbw referral to confirm umpire Joel Wilson’s original decision that the ball had pitched just outside leg stump.
However, the England skipper added that as Amir had “served his time” he had “no problems” in playing against him in this four-match series.
However, Amir had the last laugh as he took the fielders out of the equation by inducing Cook to play on for 81.
Cook appeared to be cruising, becoming the first England captain to score 4,000 Test runs, only to aim a big drive at a wide one from Amir and play on.
But a full delivery from Amir had Cook bowled and five overs later, Bairstow had his stumps knocked over as well by Yasir.
1 Last and the only time a Pakistan spinner returned better figures in a Test innings in England than Yasir’s in the first innings.
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Broad and Chris Woakes kept Masood and Azhar on their toes, and England even wasted a review in a desperate bid for a second wicket, but the batsmen weren’t tempted to try anything extravagant with the lunch break beckoning.
