England are on the verge of defeating Pakistan in the first Test in Multan despite the hosts posting a mammoth 556 runs in the first innings. After Joe Root continued his golden form in Test with double hundred, Harry Brook shone with the fastest triple hundred for England as visitors posted the fourth highest Test total of all-time on the board. In reply to Pakistan’s total, England declared their first innings on a mammoth 823 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Harry Brook got out after scoring 317(322) runs, while Joe Root scored 262(375) runs.
For the 150 overs, the English batters were all over Pakistani bowlers in their first innings. After losing their first wicket at the score of 4 runs in the form of skipper Ollie Pope, who didn't trouble the scorers, Zak Crawley (78 off 85) and Joe Root took charge of the innings as the duo put up a partnership of 109 runs for the second wicket. Following Crawley’s dismissal, Root and Ben Duckett (84 off 75) added 136 runs for the third wicket. After that, Root was joined by Harry Brook as the duo went on to put up a record partnership of 454 runs for the fourth wicket.
Harry Brook becomes 6th English batter to score to triple ton in Tests
Joe Root continued his golden form in Test as the right-hander went on to score his fifth double hundred in the longest format. The right-hander got out after scoring 262 runs off 375 balls hitting 17 boundaries. On the other hand, Harry Brook completed his triple century in just 310 balls. With this, Brook became the sixth English batter to score a triple hundred in the longest format after Leonard Hutton, Wally Hammond, Graham Gooch, Andy Sandham, and John Edrich. Ultimately, Brook got out after scoring 317 runs off 322 balls, smashing 29 fours and three sixes in his innings.
England got a lead of 267 runs in the first innings despite Pakistan scoring 556 runs. Coming to bat in the second innings, Pakistan had a disastrous start as Chris Woakes cleared Abdulllah Shafique’s stumps on the very first ball of the innings. By the end of Day 4, Pakistan were at 152/6 still trailing by 115 runs against England.
