England vs Pakistan: Harry Brook misses out on century as Joe Root, Jordan Cox, and Dan Lawrence impress in dominant batting performance

Harry Brook missed out on a century after notching 91 from 93 balls in a masterful innings that headlined a dominant England batting performance against Pakistan on day two of the first Test at Headingley.

Brook (91 off 93) led the charge and was aided by big scores from Jordan Cox (73), returning captain Joe Root (66), and Dan Lawrence (51) to consolidate what turned into a mammoth 195-run lead for England, as they ended the day on 366-8 in reply to Pakistan's 171.

The struggling visiting attack was only able to bowl 58 overs after a rain-sodden morning delayed all play until 2:45pm.

No 1 ranked Test batter Brook was clean bowled by the brilliant Usman Tariq (5-91), consigning him to missing out on triple figures at his home ground in a Test for the second summer running, after notching a stunning 99 off 112 against India last June.

• Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream England vs Pakistan no contract
• Scorecard: England vs Pakistan, first Test, Headingley
• As it happened: England vs Pakistan, day two

His nonetheless impressive work with the bat, though, means England are well on their way to victory against a Pakistan side staring down the barrel of their ninth defeat in 12 Tests.

Brilliant England batting leaves Pakistan on brink

After the lengthy rain delay, Cox and Root began the afternoon in the same fashion as they finished the previous evening, resuming on 112-2 and swatting a toothless Pakistan bowling attack away with apparent ease on their way to respective Test match fifties. Cox's maiden Test half-ton came in a 150-run partnership for the third wicket that put England firmly in the driving seat.

That stand was broken when Cox feathered Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq's delivery to wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan, foolishly using a review despite a clear edge, bringing an end to an impressive innings for England's No 3, in the side in place of the injured Jacob Bethell.

Root burnt a review of his own just four deliveries later when he was trapped plumb in front by Khurram Shahzhad (1-111) to leave England in a bind at 202-4 having been 198-2 in the previous over.

Brook then steadied the ship alongside Lawrence after tea - despite the former being dropped on 1 by stand-in skipper Salman Ali Agha, and the latter escaping with his wicket unscathed on 37 after an unsuccessful lbw review and a run-out chance came from the same Usman delivery - as the two combined to build a mammoth 122-run partnership.

Lawrence was dismissed late in the day after playing an ill-advised lofted slog sweep that was top-edged and eventually caught by Rizwan for Pakistan's fifth wicket, before Brook was fooled by a mischievous Usman delivery to suffer his heart-wrenching dismissal nine runs shy of an 11th Test century.

Usman stole the headlines late on with two wickets in two balls, trapping Gus Atkinson (3) in front before dismissing Ollie Robinson (0) for a duck straight afterwards to secure an impressive maiden Test five-fer, leaving Jofra Archer (0no off 3) and Jamie Smith (16no off 35) at the crease with England eight wickets down heading into day three.

Watch day three of the first Test between England and Pakistan, at Headingley, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10.15am on Thursday (11am first ball, weather-permitting). Stream cricket and more sport contract-free with NOW

England vs Pakistan Test series schedule

All games live on Sky Sports; all 11am starts UK and Ireland

• First Test (Headingley) - August 19-23
• Second Test (Lord's) - August 27-31
• Third Test (Edgbaston) - September 9-13

(c) Sky Sports 2026: England vs Pakistan: Harry Brook misses out on century as Joe Root, Jordan Cox, and Dan Lawrence impress in dominant batting performance