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Harry Brook became only the sixth England batter to hit a triple century in Tests as the visitors piled on the runs on Day 4 of the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Thursday.
Brook slammed Saim Ayub straight down the ground to bring up his triple hundred from 310 balls -- the second fastest after Virender Sehwag, who had got there in 278 balls against South Africa in Chennai in 2007-08.
He fell to the same bowler, caught by Shan Masood after an epic knock of 317 from 322 balls, with 29 fours and three sixes.
England declared their first innings on a huge 823/7 in 150 overs, for an overall lead lead of 267 runs after Pakistan had made 556. This is only the fourth time in the history of Test cricket that a team has gone past 800.
Brook and Root put on a record fourth wicket partnership of 454 -- the highest by any team against Pakistan in Tests.
Joe Root smashed a career-best 262 as England dominated the fourth day's play.
Root scored his sixth double century from 305 balls with a single off Agha Salman as England raced past Pakistan's first innings total of 556 in the morning session.
Brook scored his maiden double hundred as he hit a fluent 218 from 257 balls as the duo were involved in an unbeaten stand of 400 runs for the fourth wicket from 485 balls.
Root got a lifeline when he was dropped on 186 by Babar Azam at midwicket off the bowling of pacer Naseem Shah in the 105th over.
Root and Brook took apart the Pakistan bowlers, as they scored 166 runs in 29 overs in the morning session.
He had brought up his 35th Test century on Day 3 on Wednesday as he went past the legendary trio of Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara and Younis Khan, who had made 34 centuries in their career.
This was Root's fifth century in 2024 -- the joint most by any player this year along with Sri Lankan Kamindu Mendis. He is the only batter to go past the 1000-run mark in 2024.
The 33-year-old England batter has the most centuries by any active player in Test cricket. He is sixth in the overall list behind Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis 45, Ricky Ponting (41), Kumar Sangakkara (38) and Rahul Dravid (36).
This was the third time that Root had scored five centuries in a calendar year, having earlier achieved the feat in 2021 and 2022.
Root also achieved another landmark to his name as he eclipsed Alastair Cook's tally of 12,472 runs when he reached 71 not out with an elegantly driven boundary on the third day.
