close
Thursday October 10, 2024

Brook, Root resume England's chase on day four against Pakistan

Root eyes double century as visitors close-in on Green Shirts' first innings' 556-run total

By Sohail Imran & Web Desk
October 10, 2024
Englands Harry Brook and Joe Root bump fists during their innings on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan at Multan Cricket Stadium on October 9, 2024. — Reuters
England's Harry Brook and Joe Root bump fists during their innings on the third day of the first Test against Pakistan at Multan Cricket Stadium on October 9, 2024. — Reuters

Harry Brook and Joe Root carried on England's pursuit on the fourth day of the opening Test against Pakistan in Multan.

With Root and Harry Brook on the crease with 176* and 141* to their names, respectively, the visitors trail by 64 runs in the first innings against Pakistan's 556-run total.

With the visitors aiming to surpass the national side's total today, the Shan Masood-led side faced a setback as the team's leg-spinner Abrar Ahmad didn't come out on the field due to fever.

The spinner has so far been wicketless in his 35 overs where he conceded 174 runs.

Furthermore, the team also missed out on dismissing Root as Babar Azam dropped a sitter as the right-handed batter attempted a pull shot on the leg side off Naseem Shah's bowling.

Starting out at 32* a day earlier, Root went on to surpass his former teammate and skipper Alastair Cook's tally of 12,472.

After Root, Brook completed his century in the 84th over with eight fours and one six. It was Brook's sixth Test ton and fourth against Pakistan — which came off 118 balls.

Before that, the English side lost Zak Crawley for 78 inside the first hour when the opener flicked one from Shaheen Afridi to Aamer Jamal at mid-wicket.

That abruptly ended the 109-run stand for the second wicket but England were in no mood to slow down.

Playing XI

Pakistan: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmad

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (captain), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir