Harry Brook century lights up Karachi as third Test remains evenly poised

Brook scored 111 runs off 150 balls while there were also half-centuries for Ben Foakes and Ollie Pope on day two

Karachi (day two of five): Pakistan 304 & 21-0, England 354 - Pakistan trail England by 29 runs with 10 second-innings wickets in hand

Scorecard

Harry Brook lit up Karachi with his third century of the series but at the end of day two, the third Test is evenly poised.

The Yorkshireman had a couple of nervy moments early in his innings and was involved in a calamitous run out with captain Ben Stokes before building up to another big knock. He scored 111 runs off 150 balls, including eight fours and three sixes.

Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes also scored half-centuries while there were four wickets apiece for Abrar Ahmed and Nauman Ali as England finished day two with a lead of 29. 

England resumed on 7 for 1 having lost Zak Crawley late on day one and Ben Duckett and Pope quickly settled into proceedings, playing watchful but positive cricket. Debutant Mohammad Wasim was particularly punished off his first few overs of the day and was quickly pulled from the attack in favour of spin from both ends.

^{Ollie Pope contributed a useful half-century at No.3 [Matthew Lewis/Getty Images]}

Nauman (4 for 126) was rewarded for his efforts in the 14th over, striking twice in two balls to bring Pakistan into the game. Duckett was pinned lbw, which he reviewed unsuccessfully, while Joe Root was caught by Agha Salman at slip for a golden duck.

Pope, in partnership with Brook, brought up his 11th Test half-century off 63 balls but he too fell in the first session, bowled by Abrar for 51 (64).

A flurry of boundaries from Stokes ensured England headed into lunch with a spring in their step, but it would prove short-lived with the skipper departing within two overs of the return. Brook pulled out of an attempted third run, leaving Stokes stranded as the bails were whipped off at the non-striker's end.

Fortunately for Brook, he more than made amends for his error, bringing up his half-century off 73 balls and sharing a controlled 117-run stand (189 balls) with Ben Foakes to carry England beyond the 250-mark. But there would be no repeat of his daddy hundred from Rawalpindi, with Wasim exploiting the reverse after tea to bring Brook's innings to an end.

Rehan Ahmed's departure in the following over threatened a swift end to England’s innings but that crisis was averted by Foakes and Wood, who put on 51 runs for the eighth wicket.

England were eventually all out for 354, with the efforts of Foakes (64 off 121), Wood (35 off 41) and Ollie Robinson (29 off 20) affording them a valuable 50-run lead.

Pakistan squeezed in nine overs before close and will resume on Monday on 21 for 0, with Abdullah Shafique on 14 (34) and Shan Masood unbeaten on 3 (21).