Harry Brook continued his remarkable series to rebuild England’s innings with his third century in as many Tests after Pakistan had the visitors pinned down on the second day of the final match in Karachi on Sunday.
England took an improbable 50-run lead on the back of Brook’s innings before they were bowled out for 354 and Pakistan cut the deficit to 29 at the close of play.
Pakistan’s openers Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood were batting on 14 and three respectively with the home side ending the day on 21-0.
Brook’s 111 revived England’s chances of becoming the first team to clinch a 3-0 series sweep in Pakistan after the visitors were teetering at 145-5. England lead the three-match series 2-0 after a 74-run win in Rawalpindi and a close-fought 26-run victory in Multan.
After Pakistan’s spinners knocked over the English top order, Brook and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes amassed 117 for the sixth wicket, and brought England within touching distance of Pakistan’s first innings 304.
The 23-year-old Brook drove spinner Abrar Ahmed for his eighth boundary to reach his third career hundred following up his 153 in the first Test and 108 in the next.
In all Brook cracked eight fours and three sixes before he was trapped lbw to become debutant paceman Mohammad Wasim’s first Test wicket.
Brook has now scored 468 runs – beating David Gower’s 449 in 1984 – for the highest series total by an England batsman in Pakistan.
He also equalled Mohammad Yousuf’s record of three hundreds in successive matches in an overseas series. The Pakistani batsman hit three centuries in England in 2006.
Pakistan’s spinners Nauman Ali and Abrar Ahmed had England in a tight spot after the first session. The pair finished with 4-126 and 4-150 respectively.
England were struggling at 145-5 soon after lunch after Ben Stokes (26) attempted a third run which Brook turned down only to see his skipper stranded.
After Brook fell, Foakes added another 51 alongside Mark Wood for the eighth wicket.
Nauman then dismissed Foakes while Ahmed accounted for Wood and Ollie Robinson for 29.
In the morning session, Nauman removed Ben Duckett and Joe Root off successive deliveries.
With the National Stadium pitch offering turn, left-armer Nauman trapped Duckett (26) lbw and had the experienced Root caught low in the slip by Agha Salman for nought.
Pope stood firm amidst the dual wicket fall, reaching his 11th fifty before he was bowled for 51 by Ahmed, who added to the wicket he took on Saturday.
© Agence France-Presse
