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October 11, 2024
Joe Root and Ben Duckett led a strong performance for England in the first Test against Pakistan, scoring 136 runs in just 25 overs before lunch and narrowing their deficit to 324 runs. This session was particularly notable for Root, who surpassed Alastair Cook to become England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Test matches, marking a significant milestone in his career.
The action kicked off with Zak Crawley making a solid start, driving Shaheen Afridi for runs through the covers. He played confidently but was eventually dismissed when Afridi caught a shot he hit directly to midwicket, finishing with a commendable score of 85 runs. Duckett then came to the crease, having missed the previous day’s play due to a thumb injury. He quickly shook off any discomfort and put Pakistan on the back foot with aggressive batting.
Duckett’s impressive form, along with Root’s historic achievement, set a positive tone for England’s innings. The duo’s efforts not only boosted the team’s score but also laid the groundwork for a potentially strong recovery in the match. With their momentum building, England looked to capitalize on this strong start as the match progressed.
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Ben Duckett started his innings on a high note, striking Abrar Ahmed for two consecutive boundaries and then adding three more in a single over, racing to 34 runs off just 26 balls. Joe Root joined the action, finding the boundary against Naseem Shah and reaching a half-century just before the drinks break. Duckett also brought up his fifty shortly after, further solidifying his impressive record against Pakistan.
Despite Pakistan’s attempts to shake things up with bowling changes, England kept their momentum. The Pakistani pacers found some reverse swing, leading to a tense moment when Aamer Jamal had Root in a tricky spot, hitting him on the pads. However, ball-tracking confirmed the ball would have missed the stumps. In that same over, Root played a delightful drive that took him past Alastair Cook’s tally, leaving only four players ahead of him on the all-time runs list.
As England continued to dominate, they had over 300 runs still to chase. With the match in a critical phase, Pakistan will be hoping for more reverse swing to shift the momentum in their favor during the post-lunch session.
Brief scores: England 232/2 (Ben Duckett 80*, Zak Crawley 78, Joe Root 72*) trail Pakistan by 324 runs (556 all out).
In the opening session of the Multan Test match, the batters continued to dominate as England amassed runs with ease. Joe Root, who recently surpassed Alastair Cook to become England’s highest run-scorer in Test history, celebrated by reaching his 35th Test century. After the departure of Ben Duckett, Harry Brook stepped in to support the innings, helping England score 119 runs in the post-lunch session and reducing the deficit to 205.
Root carried his momentum into the afternoon, striking a boundary in the first over of the session. However, Pakistan found success early on by dismissing the aggressive Duckett, who scored 84 runs before falling just 16 runs short of a century. Duckett had been a key player in the morning session, but his wicket did little to ease the pressure on the Pakistani bowlers, as Brook quickly announced his intentions by hitting a boundary off just his second delivery.
Despite losing Duckett, England remained in control, with Root anchoring the innings and Brook adding to the scoreboard with aggressive strokes. The partnership between Root and Brook showcased England’s batting depth and resilience, keeping Pakistan on the back foot as the visitors looked to build a commanding lead in the match.
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Harry Brook quickly shifted into attack mode, racing to 21 runs off just 15 balls. His aggressive approach mirrored that of the morning session, where new batters often took control following an early wicket. Shaheen Afridi’s introduction to the attack did little to stem the tide, as Brook pummeled him for three boundaries, while Joe Root added another four runs off the left-arm pacer, edging closer to his century.
Brook reached his half-century in just 49 balls, showcasing his dominance at the crease, while Root followed suit shortly after, celebrating his 35th Test century. This milestone places the former England captain among the top five run-scorers in Test history, solidifying his legacy. Pakistan’s efforts to break the century partnership proved ineffective, as Brook and Root comfortably navigated the remaining overs before the break.
Despite Pakistan maintaining a lead of over 200 runs, England’s rapid scoring rate is a cause for concern for the home side, especially with the visitors still holding seven wickets in hand. As the match progresses, the partnership between Root and Brook continues to strengthen England’s position, putting pressure on the Pakistani bowlers.
Brief scores: England 351/3 (Joe Root 119*, Ben Duckett 84) trail Pakistan 556 by 205 runs.
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