At a batting-friendly track at Pindi Cricket Stadium, England batters made full use of the surface and piled up a mountain of runs on the opening day of the ongoing first Test against Pakistan. As many as four English batters smashed centuries as the tourists managed to post 506/4 at stumps, shattering many records.
England openers Zak Crawley (122) and Ben Duckett (107) hit respective tons before Ollie Pope and Harry Brook joined the party. Brook, in particular, was at the forefront of the demolition job. Three of the centurions had strike rates of over 100, and Brook was the fastest of them all. The right-handed batter finished the day with an unbeaten 101 off 81 balls at a strike rate of a whopping 124.69.
Brook smashed 14 fours and two sixes during his whirlwind knock. Interestingly, six of his fours came in a single over when he took debutant Saud Shakeel to the cleaners.
Here is how the over went:
- 67.1: Shakeel to Brook, four runs, a short delivery pulled over mid-wicket.
- 67.2: Shakeel to Brook, four runs, a low full-toss, and the batsman drove it to the extra cover boundary.
- 67.3: Shakeel to Brook, four runs, a half-volley, and Brook smashed it down the ground.
- 67.4: Shakeel to Brook, four runs, another half-tracker at the stumps, and the batter pulled away towards the cow-corner.
- 67.5: Shakeel to Brook, four runs, a short ball with a width and Brook guided it through extra covers.
- 67.6: Shakeel to Brook, four runs, sixth successive boundary. Yet another dragged-down delivery and Brook hit it over the deep mid-wicket.
Here is the video:
https://twitter.com/cricket4_c/status/1598274013981474825
“I enjoyed every minute out there, we were just trying to build a partnership, put the bowlers under pressure, and score runs every ball. They were all bad balls, so I tried to put them all, really. I was probably happier with that than my 100, to be honest,” said Brook after the end of the day’s play, as quoted by SkySports.
