Multan Test Match: England Batters Dominate Again with Stellar Performances
The second session of the opening Test match in Multan showcased yet another impressive display by England’s batters as they relentlessly piled on the runs. Joe Root, who recently surpassed Alastair Cook to become England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Test history, celebrated his remarkable 35th century in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Harry Brook made an impactful entrance after the departure of Ben Duckett, helping the visitors score 119 runs in the post-lunch session and narrowing their deficit to 205 runs.
Root resumed his innings with determination after lunch, striking a boundary in the opening over. However, Pakistan managed to make an early breakthrough, dismissing the explosive Duckett. Duckett, who batted at No. 4 due to an injury, had earlier lit up the morning session but fell just 16 runs short of a well-deserved century. Despite this setback, Brook quickly asserted his presence at the crease, smacking a boundary on just his second ball faced.
The young batter continued his aggressive approach, racing to 21 runs off only 15 balls. The dynamics mirrored the morning session, where the new batter took control immediately following the loss of an early wicket. Pakistan’s bowling struggles were evident, especially with Shaheen Afridi in the attack; Brook took full advantage, launching three boundaries against him, while Root added another to inch closer to his century.
Brook brought up his fifty in a brisk 49 deliveries, and Root followed suit shortly after, marking a significant milestone with his 35th Test century. With this achievement, Root now ranks behind only five other players on the list of all-time Test century scorers. Despite Pakistan’s attempts to disrupt the burgeoning partnership, the duo of Root and Brook successfully navigated the final overs before the break. Although Pakistan maintains a lead of over 200 runs, England’s aggressive scoring rate should raise concerns for the home side, especially with seven wickets still in hand.
Current Score Summary:
- England: 351/3 (Joe Root 119*, Ben Duckett 84)
- Pakistan: 556 (First Innings)
- England trails by 205 runs.
