England Build 195-Run Lead as Ali Usman Claims Maiden Test Five-For

England closed a rain-shortened second day of the first Test against Pakistan on 366-8 at Headingley, holding a 195-run first-innings lead. The Guardian reported that only a half-day of play was possible after persistent rain delayed the restart until 2:45 p.m., with England resuming from 112-2.

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Jordan Cox and Joe Root extended their third-wicket partnership to 150 as England moved past Pakistan’s first-innings total of 171. Cox reached his first Test half-century from 78 balls and went on to make 73, while Root contributed 66. Their stand ended when Cox edged spinner Ali Usman behind, and Root was bowled by Khurram Shahzad five balls later.

Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence then restored England’s control with a century partnership from 129 balls. Brook survived a chance on one when Salman Agha dropped him at third slip, while Lawrence reached his first Test fifty since March 2022. Lawrence was eventually caught by Mohammad Rizwan for 51 after miscuing a sweep against Usman.

Brook continued to attack and reached 91 before Usman bowled him as he attempted to work the ball toward the leg side. It was the second successive Headingley Test in which Brook had fallen in the 90s, following his 99 against India at the ground the previous year. His innings was the highest of four England scores above 50 on the day.

Usman finished the day with figures of 5-91 from 22 overs, his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The slow left-armer struck twice in consecutive deliveries late in the day, trapping Gus Atkinson leg before and then bowling Ollie Robinson for a first-ball duck. Jofra Archer defended the hat-trick delivery.

Jamie Smith was unbeaten on 16 alongside Archer on zero when play ended after 82 overs of England’s innings. Pakistan’s late wickets limited further damage, but England will begin the third day with two wickets remaining and a substantial advantage already established in the match.