Harry Brook century sees England lead Pakistan in third Test

Harry Brook has recorded a century for the third successive Test match as England open up a lead over Pakistan at stumps on day two of the third Test.

England went into Sunday's play on 7-1, trailing their hosts by 297 runs, but Brook's knock of 111 was one of several to help the tourists into a 50-run lead as they were bowled out for 354.

Pakistan reached 21-0 during the early stages of their reply, trailing England by 29 runs and leaving the final game of the series finely poised.

When England resumed at the start of the day, they required a strong second-wicket partnership from Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, and the pair put on 58 before Duckett was dismissed for 26.

Joe Root then departed for a first-ball duck off the bowling of Nauman Ali, and the visitors were up against it at 98-4 when Pope went 51 off just 64 balls.

1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for Harry Brook 🥳

A THIRD Test hundred in consecutive Test matches ✅✅✅ pic.twitter.com/oExVNDli7K

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) December 18, 2022

However, Brook was again proactive in compiling yet another three-figure score, the 23-year-old hitting eight fours and three maximums on the way to 111 off 150 deliveries.

Brook was assisted by three of the lower-order, most notably Ben Foakes who made 64 from 121 as he also supported a lively 35 from 41 balls from Mark Wood.

After both players fell, it appeared that the end of the innings was nigh, but Ollie Robinson (29) and Jack Leach (9*) put on 30 for the final wicket.

With 40 minutes of play remaining, Ben Stokes would have hoped to make an early breakthrough in Pakistan's second innings, only for Abdullah Shafique (14*) and Shan Masood (3*) to see out nine overs with minimal fuss.