Mohammad Abbas produced a superb bowling display, taking four wickets to put Pakistan in control on the opening day of the second Test against England at Lord's in London, although the home side fought back strongly after a poor start to finish a rain-shortened day on 248-9.
After Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl on a humid Thursday morning following a rain delay, Abbas made full use of the conditions to dismantle England's top order.
His impressive pre-lunch spell of 3 for 34, which included the wicket of captain Joe Root, helped Pakistan seize the initiative as the hosts stumbled to 80-4 at the interval.
However, England responded positively thanks to half-centuries from Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith to post a respectable total, especially given Pakistan's vulnerability exposed in their heavy defeat at Leeds earlier in the series.
Cox held firm with 55 runs while Smith smashed 61, helping England recover from 120-5. Gus Atkinson added an unbeaten 34 before bad light brought an early close.
Abbas, an experienced bowler, would have been delighted when captain Babar Azam, returning from the first Test defeat, called correctly at the toss and chose to bowl on a damp morning.
Eight years ago at Lord's, Abbas took eight wickets in Pakistan's victory, and he again adapted superbly to the conditions, using his skills with great precision.
He made the breakthrough on the final ball of the third over when Emilio Gay attempted an ambitious shot but was caught by Mohammad Rizwan after a leaping grab. Ben Duckett, who played positively but was dismissed for 17 when the ball deflected off his pad, was given out LBW after a video review.
Root was dropped on 1 but could not capitalise, falling LBW to Abbas. Harry Brook followed, edging a delivery from Mohammad Ali, leaving England in trouble at lunch.
Cox, batting calmly at number three, tried to stabilise the innings alongside Dan Lawrence until Lawrence took a risky run and was run out by a sharp piece of fielding from Shan Masood and Rizwan. A spectacular one-handed catch by substitute fielder and former captain Salman Agha dismissed Cox off Khurram Shahzad's bowling.
Smith looked dangerous but fell to Ali, who then removed Ollie Robinson two balls later. Abbas claimed his fourth wicket when Jofra Archer mistimed a shot on 14, but Atkinson remained unbeaten to help England salvage some pride in fading light.
