Mohammad Abbas finally achieved a coveted place on the Lord’s honours boards with a five-wicket haul on Sunday, but Pakistan were still set a daunting 389 to win the second Test against England.
The veteran seamer took 5-57 in 22 overs as England were dismissed for 208 in their second innings on the fourth morning as they looked to go an unassailable 2-0 up in this three-match series.
Pakistan will have to set a record if they are to achieve an improbable win. The highest fourth-innings total to win a Test at Lord’s is the West Indies’ 344-1 in 1984 that featured an unbeaten double century from Gordon Greenidge.
The omens are not promising. Pakistan were dismissed for 171 and 135 in an innings and 103-run thrashing by England during last week’s first Test at Headingley.
They then slumped to 110 all out in their first innings at Lord’s, although injured opener Imam-ul-Haq was unable to bat.
