On a day that should have belonged to England’s Harry Brook and Joe Root, whose breathtaking innings set the stage for a commanding lead, it was Pakistan’s crumbling batting lineup that claimed the headlines—for all the wrong reasons. The Multan Test, under the harsh Pakistani sun, saw Brook hammer his way to a magnificent triple century and Root etch his name further into history with a double ton. Yet, as the dust settled, Pakistan’s continued inability to withstand pressure overshadowed these historic milestones.

The morning began on a worrying note for Pakistan as Abrar Ahmed, sidelined by illness, was ruled out of bowling duties. Pakistan entered Day 4 hoping to limit the damage, however, a dropped catch by Babar Azam at mid-wicket off Naseem Shah gave Joe Root an early lifeline—and England wasted no time taking advantage.

Root and Brook pressed on relentlessly, playing with the ease of seasoned masters. Root’s fluent cover drives took England past 500, and his journey into the record books began. With that shot, Root became the first Englishman to surpass 20,000 international runs, a remarkable feat matched by only 12 other cricketers in history. Brook, on the other hand, was not to be outdone. His aggressive strokeplay signaled England’s intent to build a lead that would all but seal Pakistan’s fate.

By lunch, Root had completed his sixth double-century in a wicketless session for Pakistan, his second against Pakistan, making him the only Englishman to do so. Brook, meanwhile, surged past his personal first-class best and reached his maiden triple century with a powerful six down the ground. Their partnership rewrote the history books, becoming the highest for any wicket in England’s Test history. At 823/7, England had posted the fourth-highest total in Test cricket.

Pakistan’s frustration mounted with each boundary. Joe Root’s dismissal, trapped LBW by Agha Salman, finally broke the stand, but there was little solace to be found. Jamie Smith came in with attacking intent, smashing his second ball through the covers, ensuring that England’s assault would continue. Dropped catche by Saud Shakeel only deepened Pakistan’s woes, as England kept piling on runs at will.

Brook’s triple century was a remarkable achievement—only the sixth by an English batter in Test history. But it was overshadowed by what came next. England’s declaration at 823/7 left Pakistan with a massive deficit of 267 runs, and the hosts were immediately thrust into survival mode.

The drama, however, was just beginning. Chris Woakes struck on the very first ball of Pakistan’s second innings, bowling Abdullah Shafique to leave Pakistan shell-shocked. Shan Masood followed soon after, caught after a couple of nervy moments, and Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble. Babar Azam’s entry to the crease was greeted by crowd, but the weight of recent failures hung over him. After striking a single boundary, he was dismissed by Atkinson, deepening the crisis.

Pakistan’s batting collapse unfolded at breakneck speed. Saim Ayub’s ill-advised shot was caught safely by Duckett, and the in-form Mohammad Rizwan’s stay at the crease was brief as well, with Carse rattling his stumps. Half of Pakistan’s batting lineup had returned to the pavilion in no time, and the same pitch that had seen 823 runs from England now appeared unplayable for the hosts. Saud Shakeel attempted a counterattack but was unable to last long, leaving Pakistan teetering on the brink of defeat.

Salman Ali Agha, as he has so often done, took on the responsibility of holding the innings together. With Aamir Jamal offering some support at the other end, Agha fought valiantly to keep Pakistan in the game. Despite a late drop by Bashir, Jamal remained at the crease, giving Pakistan a glimmer of hope. But with a deficit of 267 still looming, survival seemed an impossible task.

As the Test heads into its final day, all eyes will be on Agha and Jamal to see whether they can conjure a miracle. But in a match that should have celebrated Brook’s brilliance and Root’s record-breaking achievements, it was Pakistan’s inability to handle pressure that ultimately stole the spotlight once again.