Record-breaking Joe Root, Brook lead ENG to strong 492-3 vs PAK in 1st Test

Joe Root celebrated his record-breaking day with a resolute 35th century as England cruised to 492-3 on Day 3 of the first cricket test against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Root overtook Alastair Cook as England's top run-scorer in tests to make an unbeaten 176 and his Yorkshire teammate Harry Brook compiled a spectacular 141 not out off 173 balls on a placid pitch of Multan Cricket Stadium.

The two have combined for a 243-run partnership, hitting 24 boundaries between them, and made Pakistan bowlers toil hard on a benign wicket which hasn't deteriorated over the last three days.

England now trails Pakistan by 64 runs through its usual Bazball aggressive batting in 3 1/2 sessions, in comparison to the home team's score of 556 over 5 1/2 sessions.

Root overcame cramps in intense hot weather to bat the entire day after resuming on 32. He also featured in two other century-stands with Ben Duckett (84) and Zak Crawley (78), who were the only wickets to fall in the first two sessions.

Brook