England Close in on Win in Multan

On the third day of the first Test in Multan, Pakistan posted 556, with Masood contributing 151, Salman adding an unbeaten 104, and Shafique scoring 102. In response, England reached 492-3, with Joe Root leading the charge with an outstanding 176 not out, leaving England 64 runs behind. 

Root’s monumental achievement came on the day he became England's highest run-scorer in Test cricket. Starting the day on 32, he required just 39 more runs to surpass Sir Alastair Cook’s record. The 33-year-old, playing in his 147th Test, etched his name into British sporting history, continuing to build his innings under the harsh sun.

Root’s 35th Test century was one of his most demanding, enduring the relentless heat to guide England to within striking distance of Pakistan's total. Zak Crawley had earlier made a solid 78, while Ben Duckett returned from a thumb injury to score 84. Harry Brook followed with a spectacular 141, surviving a close call when the ball hit the stumps without dislodging the bails while he was on 75.

Together, Root and Brook forged a remarkable 243-run partnership for the fourth wicket—an all-time record for England in Pakistan. England, who began the day at 96-1, piled on an additional 396 runs while losing only two wickets, creating one of their most commanding performances in overseas Tests.

England, having never before conceded as many as 556 runs and still potentially taking a first-innings lead, are now poised for a historic victory.

Root reflected on the moment, expressing pride in his achievement but emphasising that there was more work to be done. He highlighted the team’s collective effort in getting back into a strong position. “I'm obviously proud but still feel there is plenty more left to do and many more runs left to get,” he said. “More than anything, the way we played as a team is what stands out—we've got ourselves back in a really good position.”

While Root’s century made the day unforgettable, at times, the match itself felt one-sided due to the batsmen dominating the bowlers. The pitch has offered little assistance to bowlers, ranking as one of the flattest surfaces in the last three days of any Test match globally since 2007. England's relentless run-scoring and Pakistan's earlier total now make more sense in this context.

However, Test matches in this region can quickly accelerate. England, known for their aggressive approach, will look to force a result and avoid a draw at all costs. Although they have a history of bold declarations, the safer option might be to extend their innings, increasing pressure on Pakistan and reducing the chance of a tricky chase on a deteriorating pitch.

Historically, England has only once conceded more than 556 runs and still won, a feat last accomplished in 1894. However, in their two most recent encounters where they allowed over 500 runs, England emerged victorious. The coming days could well produce one of their most remarkable triumphs.