Joe Root has become England's all-time highest Test run scorer on a day where he helped his side move into a potentially-winning position against Pakistan.
With the hosts scoring 556 runs in their first innings in Multan, it appeared they had put themselves into a position where they could not lose the game.
However, England reaching 492-3 at stumps on day three has set up the possibility of a result, providing the tourists can kick on over the remaining six sessions on what is an extremely flat pitch.
The day belonged to Root, however, who surpassed Sir Alistair Cook as England's highest-ever run scorer in the long format of the game, as well as moving to fifth in the all-time list as he put together an unbeaten 176.
Cook had accumulated 12,472 runs from 161 matches, but Root ended play on Wednesday with 12,575 runs in what is his 147th Test outing.
Joe Root becomes England's leading Test-match run scorer 👏 pic.twitter.com/BQxfF5VBc4
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 9, 2024
Root bats all day
Throughout the second half of the day, the 33-year-old began to heavily cramp, particularly when he was attempting sweep shots in sweltering conditions.
Perhaps most impressively, the temptation was not there to go all-out attack, leaving that to Ben Duckett who made 84 from 75 and Harry Brook who also batted at a pace after his dismissal.
Brook deserves as much credit as Root does for their performances on Wednesday having scored at a strike-rate of 81.5 to compile his unbeaten 141 from 173.
Their fourth-wicket partnership, the biggest ever for England against Pakistan, has now reached 243 runs from 51.2 overs, and they will each have their sights set on a double hundred.
The priority, however, will be to guide England into a sizeable lead to give them a chance to bowl Pakistan out on the final day of a Test match that has only seen 13 wickets in three days.
Darren Plant
