Lunch on day four saw England firmly in control of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, reaching 658 for 3 and establishing a 102-run lead. Joe Root and Harry Brook both scored double centuries, with Root unbeaten on 259 and Brook on 218.
Root and Brook Shine with Double Centuries
Resuming their innings on Thursday morning with scores of 176 and 141, respectively, the duo quickly added to their impressive totals. Root notched his sixth double-century, moving past his previous best of 254 runs, which he achieved against Pakistan over eight years ago. Brook, on the other hand, celebrated his first double-century in red-ball cricket.
Record Partnership
The pair’s partnership has now reached 409 runs, making it England’s second-highest for any wicket against any opponent. The record of 411 runs, set by Colin Cowdrey and Peter May against the West Indies in 1957, remains the only partnership ahead of them. During the morning session, England scored 166 runs without losing a wicket, demonstrating their batting prowess.
Root’s Milestones
Root’s performance has been particularly remarkable, as he also became England’s leading run-scorer in international cricket, surpassing 20,000 runs. His morning began with a drive through the covers that brought England level with Pakistan’s first innings total of 556. However, he was fortunate to escape a drop at midwicket when he was on 186, a mistake made by captain Babar Azam.
Brook’s Steady Progress
Brook’s innings has been smooth and confident, as he sought to surpass his first-class best score of 194, set in the County Championship. With a delicate nudge into midwicket, he moved past that mark, and a sweep off Salman Agha brought him to a first-class best of 195. A single off Naseem Shah then marked his entry into the 200s, celebrated quietly.
Historic Achievement
This is only the second instance of two England batters scoring double-centuries in the same Test innings, a feat last achieved in 1984 against India in Chennai. With the batting display they’ve shown, England looks set to continue their dominance in this match.
