Smith & Cox help England to 248-9 on truncated day one

Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox battled difficult conditions and an improved Pakistan performance to take England to a competitive total on the opening day of the second Test.

In the damp and gloom at Lord's, Smith made 61 and Cox 55 to take England to 248-9 on a first day that was delayed by rain and curtailed by bad light.

The value of the hosts' score will only be revealed in time. The Lord's pitch is much better than the poor surface used for England's win against New Zealand in June, while more rain is forecast for the next three days.

It could be that England have batted themselves into a position from where they can win this match and the series, which would be a successful end to a troubling week dominated by the Brydon Carse controversy.

Cox was again impressive in only his third Test. He added 67 for the for sixth wicket with Smith, who looked fluent for a much-needed half-century.

England were boosted by a late cameo of 34 not out from Gus Atkinson, while Pakistan were led by four wickets from Muhammad Abbas and three from Mohammad Ali. Things could have better for the tourists had they not dropped three catches.

Under a dark sky and with the floodlights on, England would probably have wanted to bowl before the day was out, only for the light to end proceedings.

England close on 248-9 against Pakistan - day one as it happened