Records fall in Pakistan as Brook’s 317 helps England close on win in first Test

First Test, day three: Pakistan 556 & 152-6; England 823-7Brook and Root share mammoth record stand of 454

Where to start? With Harry Brook’s innings of 317, England’s first triple century for 34 years? With Joe Root, reduced to a hobbling wreck by the end of Wednesday but returning to add another 86 runs the following day, his total of 262 bettered only four times in the 147-year history of English tourists (including once within five minutes of his dismissal)? With England’s greatest ever partnership, worth a mammoth 454 and scored off only 522 deliveries? Or with Pakistan, who amassed 556 leisurely first-innings runs and still ended up in a desperate battle to avoid defeat with a day to spare?

England eventually declared on 823 for seven, the fourth-highest in Test history, a lead of 267. Their task then was to ascertain whether Pakistan’s recent history of third-innings failure would vex them so much they would forget how dull and lifeless this pitch was. Less than 25 overs later the home side were 82 for six, though they rallied to reach 152 by stumps, still 115 behind.

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