England recovered from a dramatic top-order collapse to reach 248-9 on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan at Lord's (cricket's most famous ground, in London) on Thursday, before bad light halted play. Veteran seamer Mohammad Abbas dismantled England's top order with three wickets in 16 balls, including captain Joe Root for just four, leaving the hosts reeling at 36-3, but half-centuries from Jamie Smith (61) and Jordan Cox (55) steadied the innings. Abbas finished with figures of 4-56 while Pakistan captain Babar Azam, returning from injury, had won the toss and chosen to bowl on a green pitch under overcast skies — conditions that proved far more favourable to his side than those they faced in an innings defeat in the first Test at Headingley last week.