England batters hit four centuries and world record total on day one

Rawalpindi: Virus-hit England stamped their aggressive brand of Test cricket on their first match in Pakistan in 17 years by amassing a world record 4-506 with four batters smashing hundreds on Thursday.

Zak Crawley hit 122 and Ben Duckett made 107 in a blistering opening stand of 233. Ollie Pope and Harry Brook blazed hundreds in the last session in an astonishing display of power-hitting against an inexperienced Pakistan bowling attack.

And the Test almost didn’t start.

England confirmed it had a fit 11 and the match could go ahead only two hours before the toss. Then it destroyed a host of records in only 75 overs when play ended prematurely because of bad light.

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