England finally ran out of batting on Day 4 at Lord's, but not before setting up what looks like a match-winning target. Resuming their second innings on 177/7, England lost their last three wickets for 31 more runs to be bowled out for 208, leaving Pakistan needing 389 to win — and by the close, the tourists were already in early trouble at 53/3.
Mohammad Abbas led Pakistan's attack with 4/73 from 20 overs, continuing the metronomic form that has been the one constant for Pakistan across this entire series, with Mohammad Ali chipping in among the other wickets to share the load. It was a reminder that Pakistan's bowling has rarely been the problem in this series — their batting has, three times over now, at Leeds and across both innings so far at Lord's.
Chasing 389 was always going to be a stern examination of Pakistan's fragile top order, and it played out exactly as feared inside the first hour. Ollie Robinson struck twice in his opening burst, trapping Azan Awais lbw and then removing Abdullah Shafique for a golden duck in the same over, before Jofra Archer had Babar Azam caught to leave Pakistan reeling at 14/3.
From there, Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood did what Pakistan's top order has repeatedly failed to do all series: survive. The pair added an unbroken 39 for the fourth wicket to take Pakistan through to stumps at 53/3, with Shakeel unbeaten on 23 off 36 balls and Masood not out on 15 off 42. It is a fraction of what is required, but after three separate batting collapses already this series — 171 and 135 at Leeds, 110 in the first innings here — simply reaching the close with wickets in hand counts as progress.
Pakistan need 336 more runs with seven wickets in hand on the final day to complete what would be a landmark chase; anything short of that, and England go 2-0 up in the series. Realistically, a target of this size on a pitch that has already produced three sub-175 innings this series is a huge ask, and England's attack — with Robinson, Archer and company already among the wickets — will fancy their chances of running through the rest of the order quickly. A draw remains mathematically possible only if Pakistan bat out the entire day, which nothing in this series so far suggests they are equipped to do.
The final day at Lord's decides both the match and the series. Track ball-by-ball scoring and win-probability shifts on SportGod's live matches page, and check AI predictions for how the model reads Pakistan's chances of pulling off a chase this size.
Scores, dismissals and bowling figures are verified against same-day coverage of Day 4 play at Lord's, current through the close of play on August 30, 2026.
Try Sport God AI live
Live scores, AI predictions, and fantasy — free during IPL 2026.