PAK vs ENG, 1st Test: Root, Brook make hay on flat Multan pitch, demoralise Pakistan

Pakistan vs England, 1st Test: Star batter Joe Root continued his golden run with a masterful hundred to steer England to a commanding 492 for 3 at stumps on Day 3 of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan.

In Short

• England reach 492 for 3 after Pakistan's 556 on flat Multan pitch
• Root eclipses ex-captain Cook's tally in the longest format
• Brook completes sixth Test hundred, Duckett makes 84

Star England batting duo Joe Root and Harry Brook turned the screws on Pakistan on a flat Multan pitch, forging an unbeaten 243-run stand for the fourth wicket and putting the tourists in a commanding position in the first Test. Root, with a masterful 35th Test century, and Brook, with his sixth, guided England to 492 for 3 at the end of play on Day 3, demoralising a Pakistan bowling attack that toiled hard but found little reward on a benign surface.

Root, starting the day on 32 not out, required just 39 more runs to eclipse Alastair Cook's tally of 12,472 runs. He achieved the milestone in classic style with an elegant on-drive for four off Aamer Jamal, receiving rapturous applause from the English supporters in the stands. Root, battling through cramps after lunch, brought up his 35th Test century with a reverse sweep, finishing the day on a majestic 176 not out, leaving England just 64 runs behind Pakistan's first-innings total of 556.

Fellow Yorkshireman Harry Brook added to Pakistan’s woes, scoring an impressive 141 not out. The duo's unbeaten partnership of 243 runs demoralised Pakistan's bowlers, who struggled to find any assistance from the lifeless Multan pitch.

England resumed the day at 96 for 1, with Zak Crawley looking set after a solid 78, but his dismissal came early as he flicked a Shaheen Afridi delivery to Aamer Jamal at mid-wicket. However, Pakistan's hopes for a breakthrough were dashed as Ben Duckett took charge. Despite dislocating his thumb while fielding, Duckett showed no signs of discomfort, racing to a 45-ball fifty. His aggressive 84, including three boundaries in a single over off Abrar Ahmed, further consolidated England's position before being trapped lbw by Aamer Jamal, ending a 136-run partnership with Root.

Root and Brook then continued to pile on the runs, keeping the scoring rate above five runs per over. Brook, who survived a bizarre incident when the ball hit the stumps after ricocheting off his helmet but failed to dislodge the bails, completed his sixth Test century and joined Root in further frustrating the Pakistani bowlers.

As Pakistan’s bowlers toiled without much reward, England’s total surged towards parity, leaving the hosts with an uphill task on what seems to be a pitch offering little assistance to the bowlers.