Harry Brook missed out on a century after notching 91 from 93 balls in a masterful innings that headlined a dominant England batting performance against Pakistan on day two of the first Test at Headingley.
Brook (91 off 93) led the charge and was aided by big scores from Jordan Cox (73), returning captain Joe Root (66), and Dan Lawrence (51) to consolidate what turned into a mammoth 195-run lead for England, as they ended the day on 366-8 in reply to Pakistan’s 171.
The struggling visiting attack was only able to bowl 58 overs after a rain-sodden morning delayed all play until 2:45pm.
No 1 ranked Test batter Brook was clean bowled by the brilliant Usman Tariq (5-91), consigning him to missing out on triple figures at his home ground in a Test for the second summer running, after notching a stunning 99 off 112 against India last June.
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England’s Harry Brook is dismissed by Pakistan’s Ali Usman as he goes on 91, just shy of a century at Headingley
His nonetheless impressive work with the bat, though, means England are well on their way to victory against a Pakistan side staring down the barrel of their ninth defeat in 12 Tests.
Brilliant England batting leaves Pakistan on brink
Lawrence made a half-century on his return to the Test side
After the lengthy rain delay, Cox and Root began the afternoon in the same fashion as they finished the previous evening, resuming on 112-2 and swatting a toothless Pakistan bowling attack away with apparent ease on their way to respective Test match fifties. Cox’s maiden Test half-ton came in a 150-run partnership for the third wicket that put England firmly in the driving seat.
That stand was broken when Cox feathered Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq’s delivery to wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan, foolishly using a review despite a clear edge, bringing an end to an impressive innings for England’s No 3, in the side in place of the injured Jacob Bethell.
Root burnt a review of his own just four deliveries later when he was trapped plumb in front by Khurram Shahzhad (1-111) to leave England in a bind at 202-4 having been 198-2 in the previous over.
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Pakistan took the wickets of Jordan Cox and Joe Root in quick succession as they halted England’s advances on day two at Headingley
Brook then steadied the ship alongside Lawrence after tea – despite the former being dropped on 1 by stand-in skipper Salman Ali Agha, and the latter escaping with his wicket unscathed on 37 after an unsuccessful lbw review and a run-out chance came from the same Usman delivery – as the two combined to build a mammoth 122-run partnership.
Lawrence was dismissed late in the day after playing an ill-advised lofted slog sweep that was top-edged and eventually caught by Rizwan for Pakistan’s fifth wicket, before Brook was fooled by a mischievous Usman delivery to suffer his heart-wrenching dismissal nine runs shy of an 11th Test century.
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Dan Lawrence survives an lbw and a run out scare in the same delivery as Pakistan look to claim their fifth wicket against England
Usman stole the headlines late on with two wickets in two balls, trapping Gus Atkinson (3) in front before dismissing Ollie Robinson (0) for a duck straight afterwards to secure an impressive maiden Test five-fer, leaving Jofra Archer (0no off 3) and Jamie Smith (16no off 35) at the crease with England eight wickets down heading into day three.
Watch day three of the first Test between England and Pakistan, at Headingley, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am on Thursday (11am first ball, weather-permitting). Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW
England vs Pakistan Test series schedule
All games live on Sky Sports; all 11am starts UK and Ireland
First Test (Headingley) – August 19-23Second Test (Lord’s) – August 27-31Third Test (Edgbaston) – September 9-13
