England faced a challenging start in the second Rothesay Test against Pakistan at Lord's, finishing day one at 248-9 in damp conditions. Key contributions came from Jamie Smith, who scored 61, and Jordan Cox, who added 55 to set a competitive total despite a day disrupted by rain and bad light.

The match began under gloomy skies, with England's innings delayed until 12:20 BST. The pitch at Lord's showed promise compared to the previous Test against New Zealand, yet forecasts of more rain could impact the match's progression.

• England's key performances:
  • Jamie Smith: 61 runs
  • Jordan Cox: 55 runs
  • Gus Atkinson: Late cameo of 34 not out

Pakistan's bowling attack improved significantly, with Muhammad Abbas claiming 4-56 and Mohammad Ali taking 3 wickets. However, the tourists missed opportunities, dropping three catches that could have changed the match's dynamics.

This Test follows a tumultuous week for England, marred by the Brydon Carse controversy, leading to his removal from the squad. In stark contrast, Babar Azam returned as Pakistan's captain, aiming to bolster the team's performance after a dismal outing at Headingley.

The first day concluded with neither side establishing clear dominance, setting the stage for a tightly contested match ahead. England's total seems workable, but Pakistan has the opportunity to capitalize if they bat effectively in the coming days.