Brook's 91 puts England 195 runs ahead of Pakistan at Headingley
Harry Brook scored 91 as England closed day two of the First Rothesay Test at Headingley on 366-8, a lead of 195 over Pakistan, after the tourists had been bowled out for 171 in their first innings.
Morning rain delayed play until 14:45 BST and action resumed under floodlights; umpire Allahuddien Paleker stood in gloves and England's backroom staff were on the dressing-room balcony in thick coats. Pakistan's first-innings 171 included Shan Masood? No — Shafique 61, and England bowlers Tongue and Robinson took five-wicket hauls, Tongue 5-46 and Robinson 5-51.
Brook, who had been overlooked for the Test captaincy and is vice-captain, made a decisive 91 and shared a 120-run stand with Dan Lawrence, who marked his recall with 51. Earlier, Joe Root and Jordan Cox compiled a third-wicket partnership of 150, but that stand ended when Cox edged to the wicketkeeper off left-arm spinner Ali Usman for 73 and, four balls later, Root was lbw to Khurram Shahzad for 66.
England had been 205-4 when Brook was dropped at second slip off Shahzad by Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha; at that moment the hosts led by 34 with only wicketkeeper Jamie Smith due to bat before the bowlers. England scored at 4.5 runs per over through the afternoon session, taking advantage of loose bowling to rebuild momentum.
Brook combined power and placement during his innings, pulling a planned short ball from Mohammad Ali for four and repeatedly guiding deliveries to third man. Trying to whip Ali Usman into the leg side in the final half-hour, Brook missed and was bowled to finish on 91; it was the second time in as many Tests he has been dismissed in the 90s on his home ground, following a 99 against India here last year.
From 23 not out overnight, Cox resumed with composure, striking three fours in a Shahzad over and reaching his first Test fifty by flicking Mohammad Abbas fine for four; he was dropped on 57 and later fell to Ali Usman. Lawrence's innings featured on-drives off seamers and sweeps off spinners, and he was dismissed after a skied top-edge attempting a sweep at Usman.
Ali Usman finished with 5-92 in England's first innings, taking Brook early and later removing Gus Atkinson and Ollie Robinson in successive deliveries to record his maiden Test five-wicket haul. The match remains the first of the series and is scheduled for five days.
The First Rothesay Test at Headingley is into day three with England 195 runs ahead, a position that leaves Pakistan under pressure to recover across the remaining three days.