LEEDS - Harry Brook’s blistering 91 and useful contributions from Dan Lawrence and Joe Root put England firmly in command of the first Test against Pakistan, despite left-arm spinner Ali Usman claiming his maiden five-wicket haul as the hosts reached 366-8 at stumps on Thursday.

England, replying to Pakistan’s modest first-innings total of 171, established a commanding 195-run lead with two wickets still in hand at the end of the second day at Headingley. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was unbeaten on 16, while Jofra Archer had yet to score when play was called off. Persistent rain washed out the entire morning session, delaying the resumption of England’s innings until after lunch. England resumed at 239-4, with Lawrence and Brook continuing a commanding fifth-wicket partnership. The pair added 120 runs, taking England beyond the 300 mark and completing their respective half-centuries before Usman finally broke the stand in the 70th over.

Lawrence played a valuable innings of 51 from 79 balls before being caught behind, ending a partnership that had placed England in a strong position. Brook continued his aggressive assault alongside Smith, adding 34 runs before Usman struck again in the 76th over. The England batter narrowly missed a deserved century, departing for a superb 91 off 93 balls, including 13 boundaries.

Usman then completed a memorable five-wicket haul by dismissing Gus Atkinson for three and Ollie Robinson for a duck in the 80th over. The spell marked his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket and reduced England to 364-8.

Earlier, England’s third-wicket pair of Zak Crawley and Joe Root had extended their overnight partnership to 150 after play resumed, with both batters completing half-centuries. Usman eventually removed Crawley, who scored a fluent 73 from 100 balls with 14 fours, before Root was dismissed by Khurram Shahzad in the following over. Root made 66 from 112 deliveries, striking 10 boundaries. Despite those breakthroughs, England maintained control through Lawrence and Brook before the latter stages of the innings. For Pakistan, Usman was the standout bowler with 5-91, while Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali claimed one wicket apiece.

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS 366-8 (Harry Brook 91, Zak Crawley 73, Joe Root 66, Dan Lawrence 51; Ali Usman 5-91) lead PAKISTAN: 171 by 195 runs.