Harry Brook’s magnificent century gave England a valuable lead over Pakistan on day two of the third Test in Karachi.
Brook’s 111, his third hundred of the series, pushed the Tourists to 354, a 50-point advantage in the first inning.
England had been 58-3, 98-4 then 145-5 when Brook was involved in the burnout of captain Ben Stokes for 26 years.
But Brook shared a 117 position with Ben Foakes, who scored his recall with 64 after knocking down the nine.
Although Brook was under Mohammad Wasim, Foakes added 51 with Mark Wood, while Ollie Robinson and Jack Leach topped 30 for the last wicket.
Pakistan were given nine overs to survive in the waning light, reaching 21-0 to trail by 29.
England have already won the series 2-0 and are looking to become the first team to leave Pakistan with a 3-0 sweep.
A memorable series for a fitting finale
This series, England’s first in Pakistan for 17 years, has already produced memorable finishes in the first two Tests and a convincing Sunday in Karachi raised the prospect of a proper final.
The contest swung back and forth over terrain offering plenty for spinners and next to nothing for pace bowlers.
England, always keen to score early, had to be pragmatic due to the conditions, the game situation and the quality of the bowling. Even then, they were still advancing more than four points in a row.
At various stages, both teams had the opportunity to build a sizable lead and the fact that England managed to claim an advantage could be significant in their eventual chase down the wearing surface.
England didn’t play until late in the day as Leach refused an lbw shout against Abdullah Shafique.
Pakistan have all 10 wickets in hand in their bid to build up a winning lead on Monday. It won’t be a draw, the way England like it.
Brilliant Brook does it again
Brook only got his chance in Test cricket after Jonny Bairstow suffered a broken leg but surely secured his place, leaving England wondering how to bring Bairstow back into the side.
The Yorkshireman became the first England batter to score three hundred in his first four Tests, the first to score hundreds in every game in a three-Test away series and his 468 runs is a record for an England batter in an away series against Pakistan. .
Missing Stokes could have derailed Brook. As the captain looked for a third run, Brook started and then turned, leaving both men on the same side.
Stokes, however, gave Brook a thumbs up as a signal to put the incident behind him, which he did with side leg pull-ups, upside-down drives and three straight sixes.
Brook hit triple figures on 133 balls with a back kick for four on Abrar Ahmed’s leg spin.
He was eventually trapped on the crease to give Wasim his first Test wicket, leaving to a cheering ovation from the traveling England supporters gathered above the visitors’ dressing room.
Fantastic Mr Foakes
The first half of the day belonged to Pakistan, who caught England three times. Ben Duckett and Joe Root fell to successive Nauman Ali deliveries, Ollie Pope made 51 before being knocked down by an Abrar beauty and Stokes looked in good contact until the end.
But wicketkeeper Foakes, who was ruled out of the second Test after falling ill for the first, once again proved the worth of his batting skills.
He successfully reviewed being caught in the short leg by Abrar, then backed Brook up with wrist shots to the side of the leg.
After Brook crashed, 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed managed just one in his first Test rounds, leaving Wood to join Foakes in a bid to put England ahead.
Wood pushed from the side of the leg before being caught well mid-wicket by Shafique, while Foakes skied halfway. Even then, Robinson and Leach were able to take advantage of the tired Pakistani spinners.
When Abrar beat Robinson, he joined left hander Nauman on four wickets. Between them they sent nearly 65 overs, compared to 17 by the other three bowlers used.
“Brook’s Best Test Century Yet”
Former England spinner Vic Marks on Test Match Special: “Brook was great. Being involved in a run-out with one of your best players [Ben Stokes] is difficult.
“I think it was his best century so far. It wasn’t as dynamic and he got involved in a mix-up, but despite that he still had his century.
“Foakes did very well too. His efforts were very valuable.”
