Pakistan vs England LIVE: Cricket score and first Test updates as Root and Brook help build mammoth total
Follow all the action from Multan Cricket Stadium as England and Pakistan rocket towards a draw
Joe Root has overhauled Sir Alastair Cook as England’s record run scorer in Test cricket, passing his former captain’s mark of 12,472 on day three of the series opener against Pakistan.
Root arrived in the country needing 71 to take top spot and got there in his first innings, seizing a crown he has long been destined for in typically assured fashion on the third morning in Multan.
The 33-year-old assumed the mantle with a check drive for four off Aamer Jamal, moving fifth on the all-time list in his 147th Test appearance – 14 fewer than Cook managed before his retirement in 2018.
It was a typically assured innings from the Yorkshireman and sorely needed after he came to the crease with England on 4-1 in reply to Pakistan’s bumper score of 556 but a lifeless pitch allowed the visitors to soar past their hosts’ total as Root passed 250 run and fellow Yorkshireman Harry Brook joined him in clearing 200 as the game appeared destined for a draw..
Follow all the latest coverage in the live blog below:
Pakistan vs England
103.5
Shaheen Afridi to Joe Root. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to backward point for no runs, fielded by Ayub.
Pakistan vs England
103.4
Shaheen Afridi to Joe Root. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, well timed to deep cover for 2 runs, fielded by Jamal.
Pakistan vs England
103.3
FOUR! Shaheen Afridi to Joe Root. Length ball, off stump on the front foot flick, well timed past deep mid wicket for 4 runs.
Pakistan vs England
103.2
Shaheen Afridi to Joe Root. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot working, to short mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Shakeel.
Pakistan vs England
103.1
Shaheen Afridi to Joe Root. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, to silly mid on for no runs, fielded by Shakeel.
Pakistan vs England
102.6
Naseem Shah to Joe Root. Length ball, off stump on the front foot working, to deep mid wicket for 1 run.
Pakistan vs England
102.6
No ball Naseem Shah to Harry Brook. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot glancing, to fine leg and it was a no ball, fielded by Afridi.
Pakistan vs England
102.5
Naseem Shah to Joe Root. Seaming in back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, in the air under control to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Ahmed.
Pakistan vs England
102.4
Naseem Shah to Joe Root. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, well timed to cover for no runs, run save by Shakeel.
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