Abbas gives Pakistan edge with four wickets against England in second Test

England battled back from 80-4 at lunch to 248-9 by the end of the rain-shortened first day at Lord’s.Pakistan bowler ‌Mohammad Abbas took four wickets as his side edged the first day of the second ⁠Test against England at ⁠Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, although the hosts battled back from a rocky start to end a weather-shortened day on 248-9.After Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl on a ⁠muggy Thursday morning following a rain delay, Abbas took full advantage of the conditions to wreck England’s top order.A stunning spell of three for 34 before lunch, including the removal of England captain Joe Root, put ⁠Pakistan in command, with the hosts reeling on 80-4 at lunch.But England, led by half-centuries for Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith, responded to move towards a respectable total, especially against a Pakistan side whose batting was ruthlessly exposed in a heavy defeat at Leeds.Cox dug in for 55 while Smith made an aggressive 61 as England ‌recovered from 120-5. Gus Atkinson swung the bat late on for an unbeaten 34 before bad light forced an early close.The vastly experienced Abbas would have smiled when captain Babar Azam, back after missing the first Test defeat, called right to win a delayed toss.Eight years ago at Lord’s, Abbas claimed eight wickets in a Pakistan victory, and he found conditions to his liking again as he went about his business in skilful fashion.He made the breakthrough with the last ball of his third ⁠over when Emilio Gay tried to flick a leg-side ball off his ⁠pads but was caught by a diving Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps.Ben Duckett looked to be aggressive, but was undone when on 17 as Abbas jagged a ball back that trapped him on his back foot. He was given out leg before wicket (LBW) on review.