1st Test
Day-3 Evening Session Highlights:
Joe Root and Harry Brook has anchored the England’s charge in a high-scoring batting frenzy
At the Stumps of Day-3:
England scored 492/3 (1st Innings), where as Pakistan scored 556 (1st Innings).
So, finally England trail by 64 runs.
Joe Root secured his 35th Test century, becoming England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Test cricket on a day dominated by batsmen in Multan.
He was supported by Harry Brook (141*) and Ben Duckett (84) in England’s solid response to Pakistan’s 556.
At the close of day three, England trailed by just 64 runs.
Brook, in his fourth consecutive Test in Pakistan, reached his century in the final session, joining Root in the day’s milestone celebrations.
Together, they unleashed an onslaught on Pakistan’s bowling attack in the last two sessions, amassing 141 runs in the evening.
Their unbeaten partnership of 243 became the highest for any wicket in England’s Test history in Pakistan, with Pakistan’s bowlers unable to break through despite their efforts.
Brook had a slice of luck on 75 when a near miss off Aamer Jamal’s bowling saw the bails stay intact, while Root had an LBW review overturned, but there were few chances for Pakistan throughout the day, as the bat dominated.
Just before the second new ball was taken in the final session, Brook reached his sixth Test century in just 118 balls, while Root approached his 150.
With the milestone secured, Root adopted a more cautious approach, allowing Brook to continue his aggressive play, which remained untroubled by the new ball.
The day’s play followed the same pattern established earlier, with England steadily building their score.
The day began with Zak Crawley sending a message with an early boundary, driving Shaheen Afridi through the covers.
However, Pakistan’s leading pacer soon removed him, as Crawley hit one straight to midwicket after a well-made 85.
Duckett then walked to the crease after missing the previous day’s innings due to a thumb injury.
He showed no signs of discomfort and immediately put Pakistan on the backfoot.
Duckett struck Abrar Ahmed for consecutive boundaries, then followed up with three more in an over, racing to 34 off just 26 balls.
Root, meanwhile, found a boundary off Naseem Shah and brought up his half-century just before the drinks break.
Duckett followed soon after, continuing his impressive record against Pakistan.
Despite numerous bowling changes, Pakistan was unable to make a breakthrough, and England kept building their innings.
Although Pakistan’s pacers found some reverse swing at one point, there was little to cheer about.
A delivery from Aamer Jamal hit Root on the pads, but ball-tracking confirmed that it would have missed the stumps.
In the same over, Root played a delightful drive, surpassing Alastair Cook’s run tally to move into the top five all-time Test run-scorers.
Root began the afternoon session in the same vein, finding a boundary in the first over.
However, Pakistan found success early when Duckett was dismissed, just 16 runs shy of his century.
Brook wasted no time, smashing a boundary off his second delivery and quickly moving to 21 off 15 balls, continuing the aggressive approach.
Shaheen Afridi’s introduction couldn’t stem the flow of runs as Brook hammered him for three boundaries, with Root adding one more to inch closer to his century.
Brook reached his half-century off just 49 balls, and Root followed shortly after with his 35th Test ton.
With that century, Root moved closer to the top of the Test run-scorers list, now trailing only five others.
Pakistan’s attempts to break the partnership proved futile, as the two batsmen comfortably carried England through the third day.
Leave a Reply