Multan Test: Pakistan set for new low as innings defeat looms after England's 823

Pakistan are staring at an innings defeat after England notched up their highest total in 86 years thanks to Harry Brook's triple century and Joe Root's double ton on the fourth day of the first Test.

In Short

• Pakistan are staring at an innings defeat after batting a collapse
• 823 for 7: England post fourth-highest total in Test cricket history
• Harry Brook notched up a superb 317 and Joe Root hit 262

Pakistan are reeling at the brink of a crushing innings defeat after England batters Harry Brook and Joe Root broke records at will on Day 4 of the first Test in Multan. England declared at an imposing 823 for 7, their highest total in 86 years, thanks to a spectacular triple century from Brook and 262 from Root. Pakistan's response has been nothing short of a collapse, leaving the hosts teetering at 152 for 6 at the close of day four.

Despite the extremely flat conditions at the Multan Cricket Stadium, which had been expected to favor the batsmen, Pakistan's top order crumbled under the relentless pressure from England's pace attack. The visiting bowlers, led by Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse, extracted whatever life they could from the docile pitch, striking crucial blows to leave Pakistan trailing by 115 runs with just four wickets in hand.

PAK vs ENG 1st Test Day 4 Live

Pakistan's Salman Agha (40*) and Aamer Jamal (27*) managed to forge a gritty 70-run partnership, but with a mountain still to climb, their hopes seem slim heading into the final day. England, already smelling blood, remain firmly in control as they look set to secure a resounding innings victory.

FOURTH-HIGHEST TEST SCORE

Resuming on 492 for 3, England's batsmen ruthlessly ground down a weary Pakistani bowling attack to post the fourth-highest team total in the history of Test cricket. Brook's sensational 317, his career-best score, and Root's 262 made up a colossal 454-run partnership fourth-highest in Test history. This stand also broke England's all-time record for the highest partnership, demonstrating their total dominance on the flat Multan track.

Root's innings saw him become the first English batsman to surpass 20,000 international runs, further cementing his place amongst the Test greats. Babar Azam dropped Root on 186, and the English batter made Pakistan pay dearly by marching on to his sixth double century before being dismissed lbw by Salman Agha.

Harry Brook, meanwhile, blazed his way into the history books with a breathtaking triple century, the second-fastest in Test cricket, achieved in just 310 balls. He became only the sixth Englishman to register a triple century, hammering the Pakistani bowlers as six of them conceded over 100 runs a rare occurrence in Test history.

PAKISTAN BATTING COLLAPSES

In stark contrast, Pakistan's response was marred by a succession of poor shots and brilliant bowling from England's quicks. Chris Woakes set the tone immediately, dismissing a fatigued Abdullah Shafique with the first ball of Pakistan's innings. Skipper Shan Masood and Babar Azam soon followed, with Atkinson delivering a brutal double blow to leave the hosts reeling at 29 for 3.

Pakistan's middle order fared no better, with Saim Ayub and Mohammad Rizwan falling cheaply, leaving the team at 59 for 5. Jack Leach added further misery by removing Saud Shakeel, and despite some resistance from Agha and Jamal, Pakistan's hopes of avoiding an innings defeat look bleak.

As Pakistan prepares for the final day, they face a seemingly insurmountable task to avoid a humiliating loss. England's relentless pressure, combined with their own batting failures, has left them staring down the barrel of a record-breaking defeat. With Salman and Jamal the last recognized batsmen at the crease, the hosts will need nothing short of a miracle to salvage anything from this match.