England consolidated their dominance on the fourth day of the first Test against Pakistan, making a colossal 823-7 declared led by Harry Brook’s career best 371 and Joe Root’s 262. Pakistan defended the very early stages of their second innings at tea reaching 23-1. They are still 244 runs behind England and have lots to do to force this game.
It was the fourth-highest partnership for the fourth wicket in Test cricket history, and Brook was 25 years old, the sixth Englishman to score a triple century hitting 28 fours and three sixes in his masterpiece. His meteoric rise in international cricket surely, having already notched up three centuries against Pakistan during England’s historic 3-0 series win in 2022.
England’s all-time leading run scorer in Tests,
Root was unfortunate not to reach his maiden triple century. He was dismissed for 262 by Pakistan’s spinner Agha Salman shortly after lunch, missing out the milestone. Nevertheless, Root surpassed his previous best score of 254, which he made against Pakistan in 2016. Earlier in the match, Root broke Alastair Cook’s record of 12,472 runs to become England’s top Test run scorer.
Pakistan’s reply was fragile,
Losing opener Abdullah Shafique to Chris Woakes with the very first ball of their second innings. Captain Shan Masood (10) and Saim Ayub (13) survived till tea, though Masood was dropped twice by England fielders.
Pakistan, who are struggling to save this Test on a flat Multan pitch, face a mountainous task. Abrar Ahmed, their frontline spinner, missed out on Thursday with an illness that weakened the bowling even more.
A single stump, over 300 runs, and a fresh bowling attack led by Woakes, who got Pakistan off to an early jolt, stand in the way of Pakistan saving this Test and turning around the series. Pakistan need another 244 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Trailing by so much, Pakistan have a task in front of them to save the Test as they will have to contain England’s bowling with the key spinner absent from action. Their second innings did not start on a very solid note, either, and it does not bode well for the hosts. England’s batting firepower has been simply impressive, and Brook and Root make that impressive batting display go to the record books.
