Andy Zaltzman
Statistician on Test Match Special

Joe Root's half-century came from 76 balls and had only four fours. It's a classic Root innings.

It's his 99th 50-plus score in Test cricket with 34 centuries among those, tying him with Rahul Dravid for the fourth-most 50-plus scores in Test history with only Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Sachin Tendulkar ahead of him.

Since the start of 2021, Root has converted 17 out of his 32 half-centuries into three-figure scores.

Four more to Ben Duckett after drinks as Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan's second spinner, drops short.

Ben Stokes was running the liquids in between overs there, leaving me wondering whether he could not get someone else to do the job. It probably says something about him as well as me.

Image source, Getty Images

The runs have flowed so far on day three for England with the pitch in Multan still looking remarkably flat.

Zak Crawley and Joe Root extended their partnership to 109 before the opener was caught at mid-wicket off Shaheen Afridi.

That saw Ben Duckett come in at four and he has shown no sign that the thumb injury that prevented him from opening the batting yesterday evening is affecting him.

He's racing towards a half-century, scoring at more than a run-a-ball but did have a moment of good fortune when he edged Naseem Shah between wicketkeeper and slip.

Meanwhile, Root is calmly going about his business at the other end to bring up his 65th Test fifty.

The former skipper is closing in on becoming England's leading Test run-scorer. 71 is the target in this innings for him to get there.

50 for Joe Rootpublished at 33 overs

33 overs

Image source, Getty Images

What better way to greet those of you being woken by a 7am alarm? Joe Root gets a single to take him to his fifty.

He needs 21 more runs to break Alastair Cook's record as England's leading Test run-scorer.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

That's a nice ball by Naseem Shah and Ben Duckett just defends forward, not looking to push at it too much. It flicks the outside edge and would have certainly carried if there was a first slip.

Edged through a gap in the slips by Ben Duckett!

Pakistan have that fielder lurking wide and it goes straight between him and the wicketkeeper.

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Duckett thrashes another single, this time off off-spinner Salman Ali Agha with Abrar Ahmed banished for a spell in the naughty corner. The fifty partnership has been reached in just 45 deliveries. Duckett has dominated it.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

When someone who's hurt their finger comes out to bat, you look to see whether they are taking their bottom hand off the bat which can get vibrations if the ball doesn't hit the bat perfectly. Ben Duckett's not done that much in this innings which is a good sign.

A three on the reverse sweep takes Joe Root to 49 and to within 22 runs of becoming England's leading Test run-scorer.

Somewhere on a farm, Alastair Cook is grumbling at a sheep.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

Joe Root looks to be in the mood. He's on the hunt, I am afraid Sir Alastair Cook, if you are listening.

Naseem Shah might have just got this ball reverse swinging a touch, you know. Joe Root's response is to play a textbook cover drive for four.

He's getting closer.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

There's problems here for Pakistan because their main spinner is getting a pasting.

Ben Duckett is refusing to let leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed settle.

He crashes two boundaries in this over and gets lucky with another as the ball only just evades mid-on. It's thrilling but not particularly comfortable watching for before 7am.

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

Pakistan weren't letting the England spinners, especially Shoaib Bashir, settle forcing them to recycle their fast bowlers quicker and go to the short-ball plan for longer.

England are taking a similar approach, being on the precipice of that aggressiveness and then being able to temper it down a little bit to make sure it's not reckless.

Ollie Pope in 2024: Three hundreds but no meaningful scores in between = criticised.

Zak Crawley in 2024: No hundreds but lots of meaningful scores in between = criticised.

Tough gig.

Soham Sarkhel
CricViz analyst

Since his last Test century (against Australia in Manchester in 2023), Zak Crawley has scored seven fifties and been dismissed between 70 and 80 runs six times including today. Since his debut, Crawley has scored three centuries as an opener and 14 half-centuries, his conversion rate of 18% is the joint-third-lowest amongst all openers in this time frame (minimum of five 50+knocks).

There was a time not so long ago that England were craving an opener who could get to 73!

James Gulleford: Crawley is so predictable! Gets in, looks good, gets some way to a decent score and always always gets himself out! 73 doesn’t win Test matches. Exactly why I wouldn’t have him in the team.