Jos Buttler made a half-century as his seventh-wicket partnership with Dom Bess ensured England avoided an innings defeat in the first NatWest Test with Pakistan.

Buttler, playing his first Test since 2016, came together with debutant Bess after the hosts had slumped to 111 for six at Lord’s, still 68 runs from making Pakistan bat again on the third day.

A 50 partnership closed the gap and Bess put England into the lead with a cover drive to move to 29, but the pair still had plenty of work to do to take the game into Sunday.

Mohammad Abbas celebrates taking the wicket of Joe Root
Mohammad Abbas celebrates taking the wicket of Joe Root (Adam Davy/PA)

Their stand came after England’s top order suffered more batting woe, with openers Alastair Cook (one) and Mark Stoneman (nine) both departing cheaply in the morning session.

Skipper Joe Root (68) dominated a 60-run stand with Dawid Malan (12), but the latter’s dismissal prompted a collapse of four wickets for 19 runs.

Mohammad Amir had Malan caught behind and then bowled Jonny Bairstow (nought) two balls later. Ben Stokes was pouched at midwicket off Shadab Khan for nine, before Root’s 120-ball stay ended when he was lbw to Mohammad Abbas.