Harry Brook approaches triple century as England post 823 runs against Pakistan

Harry Brook has scored England’s first triple century since 1990 on a record-breaking fourth day against Pakistan, with the tourists taking 7-823 before embarking on a thrilling winning streak in the first Test.

England’s ‘Bazball’ bravado ran wild in Multan on Thursday as they piled up the fourth-highest ever total in Test cricket after Brook and Joe Root created history with a fourth-wicket partnership of 454.

Brook finished with a whopping 317 off 322 balls, ground not seen since Graham Gooch’s 333 against India 34 years ago, and Root on Wednesday celebrated overtaking Alastair Cook as the country’s leading run-scorer with a career-best 262 .

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: download today

Pakistan then faltered to 5-59 before closing at 6-152 – still trailing at 115.

Brook’s innings took him fifth on England’s all-time list, while his monster stand with Root easily eclipsed the previous best of 411 between Peter May and Colin Cowdrey, against the West Indies in 1957.

Only three pairs worldwide have ever achieved more than the Yorkshire duo and they even jumped three runs clear of Sir Donald Bradman’s highest partnership (451 with Bill Ponsford against England at The Oval in 1934) before giving way.

The cricket world collapsed after the innings.

England’s Kevin Pietersen: “Apart from the circumstances, a triple 100 is simply incredible! Harry Brook is a superstar!.”

While Barmy Army’s social account said: “Remarkable. Excellent. Sensational… An incredible performance from an incredible player and person.”

The Wisden report said: “317 runs – 322 balls – 29 fours – 3 sixes After his stunning triple century in Multan, Harry Brook now averages 130.83 in Pakistan, with four centuries from six innings 🤩.”

England, who conceded 556 in the first innings, somehow turned that into a lead of 267, but things got even better when the Pakistani wickets started to tumble.

England’s ruthless scoring seemed to break the spirit of the home side – the dejected-looking bowlers, the lethargic ground fielding, the truly terrible catch – but Pakistan’s implosion confirmed that they had lost hope for the fight.

They lost opener Abdullah Shafique on the very first ball of their second innings, thanks to the fine skill of Chris Woakes, who batted in and sent away a spiraling tree.

First-innings centurion Shan Masood then survived two drops before chipping Gus Atkinson to short midwicket for 11, leaving Surrey seamer Babar Azam behind moments later.

Debutant Brydon Carse then took out Saim Ayub with his loser, well caught by the retreating Ben Duckett midway through the match, throwing off the form of Mohammad Rizwan.

After only 13 wickets fell in the first 10 sessions of the match, Pakistan conspired to lose five in 12.1 overs. Jack Leach made it six as Saud Shakeel fell behind, but a four-day victory slipped through Shoaib Bashir’s fingers when he dropped Aamer Jamal at fine leg to deny the impressive Carse.

Earlier, Yorkshiremen Root and Brook scored 166 in 29 overs. Root was dropped heavily at midwicket on 186 by Babar, and Jamie Smith was later knocked down twice in a late cameo as heads fell.

Root reached 200 for the sixth time in his career and accelerated past 250 with a reverse scoop. Brook made his Test best of 186, his first-class best of 194 and made his double ton in 245 balls.

He brought up the 400-run partnership with a brutal uppercut for four and, after being interrupted for lunch, ended May and Cowdrey’s 67-year record in the first over of the afternoon.

Root finally succumbed at the crease after 10 when he was lbw to Agha Salman, but Brook became only the sixth Englishman to reach 300.

A top sweep took him below Len Hutton’s record of 364 and, like Root, he was mobbed with handshakes by the opposition on the way to the pavilion as a sign of respect.