PAK vs ENG: Explosive batting helps visitors set Pakistan 343-run target

Harry Brook, Joe Root and Zak Crawley smacked brisk fifties in the second innings

By Web Desk
December 04, 2022
Harry Brook plays a shot — AFP

Brisk fifties by Harry Brook, Joe Root and Zak Crawley helped England race to a lead of more than 300 runs on the fourth day of the ongoing first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. 

At the tea break, England declared their second innings at 264-7 and set Pakistan a target of 343 runs.  

Brook smacked Pakistan bowlers to all parts of the ground and scored 87 runs in 65 balls. 

Root, one of the best batters in the world, scored 73 runs in 69 balls. 

Opener Zak Crawley scored 50 runs in 48 balls and set the tone for the second innings. 

Opener Ben Duckett — one of four century makers in England´s mammoth 657-run first innings — was caught at slip off the second ball of pacer Naseem Shah for a golden duck.

Fellow centurion Ollie Pope cracked two boundaries before hooking fast bowler Mohammad Ali into the hands of Naseem, scoring 15.

Naseem Shah, Zahid Mahmood and Mohammad Ali claimed two wickets each for Pakistan in the second innings. 

Earlier, Will Jacks grabbed 6-161 to help England dismiss Pakistan for 579 and give his side a 78-run first-innings lead.

The tourists — playing their first Test series in Pakistan for 17 years — have another four sessions to force a result in the three-match series.

Jacks took all three wickets to fall after Pakistan resumed at 499-7 — but not before the host´s tail-enders scored freely on a much-maligned flat Rawalpindi Stadium pitch.

Agha Salman (53) and Zahid Mahmood (17) frustrated England for 50 minutes during their stubborn eighth-wicket stand of 57.

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