Harry Brook’s 91 puts England in command after Pakistan’s costly drop
Harry Brook made Pakistan pay for an early missed chance as his aggressive 91 strengthened England’s control of the first Test at Headingley on Thursday.
Harry Brook celebrates his quickfire 91 during England’s first Test against Pakistan at Headingley.
England closed the rain-affected second day on 366-8, giving them a commanding 195-run lead over Pakistan’s first-innings total of 171. Brook struck 13 boundaries from 93 deliveries and appeared on course for another Test century at his home ground before being dismissed late in the day.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha had the opportunity to remove Brook when he edged Khurram Shahzad after scoring just one. The chance went down at second slip, allowing England’s No. 1-ranked Test batter to launch an aggressive counterattack.
The missed opportunity proved costly as Harry Brook quickly accelerated and moved towards what would have been his first Test hundred at Headingley.
Brook falls short of another Headingley century
Left-arm spinner Ali Usman ended Brook’s innings for 91 when the batter attempted to work the ball towards the leg side, only for it to strike his leg and hit the stumps.
Brook’s dismissal was his second score in the 90s at Headingley, after he made 99 against India last year. His latest innings also continued his impressive Test record, with the 27-year-old now having scored 11 centuries in 39 matches.
England’s batting strength was built on several important partnerships. Jordan Cox scored 73 in only his second Test, while Joe Root added 66. The pair shared a crucial 150-run stand for the third wicket before Pakistan finally broke through.
Cox completed his maiden Test half-century by steering Mohammad Abbas through the leg side for his 10th boundary.
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England build a commanding lead
Cox later survived another opportunity when Khurram Shahzad dropped a return catch on 57. Ali Usman eventually provided Pakistan with the breakthrough, finding the edge of Cox’s defensive shot with a sharply turning delivery that carried to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.
Root followed Cox shortly afterwards, falling for 66 when Shahzad trapped him lbw.
Brook then joined forces with Dan Lawrence, who returned to the Test side following Ben Stokes’ international retirement. The pair added 120 runs, helping England maintain their advantage despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
Lawrence eventually completed a half-century, becoming the fourth England batter to pass 50 without reaching three figures.
Ali Usman gives Pakistan hope
For Pakistan, Ali Usman was the standout bowler. He claimed 5-92 from 23 overs to register his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket in only his third appearance.
After removing three specialist batters, Usman dismissed Gus Atkinson and Ollie Robinson with consecutive deliveries before Jofra Archer survived the hat-trick attempt.
Pakistan had earlier been dismissed for just 171 on the opening day, with England pacemen Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue taking five wickets each.
With England already holding a substantial lead, Pakistan face a difficult challenge in the remainder of the first Test.
