Fresh from becoming England’s highest-ever run-scorer in Tests, Joe Root rubber-stamped his name in the history book again as he combined with Harry Brook to produce England’s highest-ever partnership. Their combined haul of 454 runs set England on their way to declaring at 823-7, as they made the most of an incredibly flat pitch. Pakistan then entered the crease and trail by 115 runs at stumps.
Joe Root and Harry Brook were in devastating form on day four of the first Test against Pakistan, securing England’s highest-ever partnership of 454 runs.
The Yorkshire duo showed no mercy in Multan, posting 262 and 317 respectively on a sobering day for Pakistan’s bowlers.
After England declared for an astonishing 823-7 – becoming the first team to surpass a total of 800 runs in the 21st century – Pakistan’s toils continued at the crease as their batting order collapsed to finish 152-6 at stumps.
The hosts trail by 115 runs with one day remaining and will need all the help from the flattest of tracks to avoid a damaging defeat.
A series of milestones were met on a landmark day as Root followed on from becoming England’s all-time leading runs scorer by claiming his career-best score.
Brook’s total of 317 also ensured he became only the sixth England player to score more than 300 runs in a men’s Test innings.
The partnership between Root and Brook eventually came to an end when Root fell lbw off the bowling of Salman Ali Agha. Brook was then dispatched after being caught by Shan Masood off Saim Ayub.
Peter May and Colin Cowdrey previously held the national record after their combined haul of 411 at Edgbaston in 1957.
The seismic magnitude of this performance cannot be underestimated, with this England’s third-highest total of all time and the fourth in Test cricket.
Following the declaration, Pakistan were left trailing by 267 and a fantastic day for England was about to get even better as the hosts entered the crease.
Abdullah Shafique was bowled out first ball by Chris Woakes, and a sizeable task became even greater for Pakistan.
They rallied to 23-1 at tea with Ayub and Masood building a second-wicket stand of 23, leaving them trailing by 244 runs.
Masood was fortunate to still be at the crease after being dropped twice – first by Chris Woakes at five, and then by Gus Atkinson at seven – but his luck ran out when he was caught by Zak Crawley at mid-wicket from Atkinson’s bowling.
Atkinson struck again to take out Babar Azam as Jamie Smith caught him behind, before Ayub immediately followed. This time, Ben Duckett provided the catch from Brydon Carse’s first delivery.
Carse struck again to bowl out Muhammad Rizwan for 10, before Saud Shakeel was caught by Smith from Jack Leach’s delivery for England’s final wicket of the day, leaving the hosts at a measly 82-6.
The tourists were close to removing Aamer Jamal, but Shoaib Bashir dropped the ball at fine leg from Carse.
It was a much-needed reprieve for Pakistan, with a seventh-wicket stand currently standing at 70 runs to take this Test into a fifth and final day.
