Joe Root’s impeccable century on the day he became England’s all-time leading run-scorer took the attack back into the first Test against Pakistan in Multan.

Root started the third day with 32 and needed another 39 to break Sir Alastair Cook’s record. The 33-year-old wrote a moment of British sporting history in his 147th Test and then continued to set the stage for a remarkable victory.

In relentless heat, this was one of the most grueling of Root’s 35 Test hundreds. He struggled throughout for his 176 not out, taking England to 492-3, just 64 points behind.

After Zak Crawley was out on 78 and Ben Duckett recovered from his dislocated thumb to make 84, Harry Brook reached his own unbeaten 141, surviving the ball as he hit the stumps but failing to clear the bails as he made 75 had.

Root and Brook have shared 243 for the fourth wicket so far, an all-wicket record for England in Pakistan. At 96-1, England added a total of 396, losing just two wickets in one of their great days in an overseas Test.

Never before have England conceded as many goals as Pakistan (556) and taken the lead in the first innings.

Now they are ready to do just that, giving themselves a chance at another stunning victory in this country.

“I’m obviously proud, but I still feel like there’s still a lot to do and a lot of runs to score,” said Root.

“More than anything, what stands out is the way we played as a team – we put ourselves back in a really good position.”