Root arrived for this first Test in Multan needing 71 to replace Cook’s mark of 12,472 and got there just before lunch, stroking a straight drive for four to go clear at the summit. By tea he had defied painful pangs of fatigue to reach 119 not out, carrying England’s innings to 351 for three in reply to the hosts’ bumper 556. Duckett arrived next, his arrival at number four allaying worries over the thumb injury that prevented him opening the batting on Tuesday evening. He immediately picked up the baton from Crawley, smashing a 45-ball fifty and taking a dismissive approach to lead spinner Abrar Ahmed. In August Root took ownership of Cook’s other proud achievement, surpassing his record of 33 Test hundreds with back-to-back tons against Sri Lanka at Lord’s.

Source: Express October 09, 2024 10:11 UTC