England hits record-breaking 500 on first day

FOUR of England’s top five batsmen smashed rapid hundreds against Pakistan in a recordbreaking batting performance as the visitors racked up 506-4 on the opening day of the first test in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

It is the first time in test cricket that 500 runs have been scored on the first day, with England in dazzling form on their first test tour of Pakistan since 2005.

On a flat track and against a Pakistan attack that included three debutants, England’s batting looked like a continuation of their victorious campaign at the T20 World Cup in

Australia.

Openers Zak Crawley (122) and Ben Duckett (107) combined in a 233-run stand to give England a blazing start.

Number three batsman Ollie Pope made 108 while Harry Brook, who was unbeaten on 101 off 81 balls, illustrated their approach best when he smashed six fours in an over from Saud Shakeel.

Captain Ben Stokes was batting on 34 when bad light stopped play, doubtless to the relief of the Pakistan camp.

“It was the ideal start to the tour,” Pope told

Sky Sports explaining how the Crawley-Duckett partnership set the tone for their domination.

“It started from the get go - 14 from the first over. It put them under pressure and they looked like they panicked a little bit.

“It looked like there wasn’t anywhere they could bowl to those two. It was a perfect way for them to set us up for a series.”

Following Stokes’ decision to bat after winning the toss, Crawley gave an early indication of their intent, smashing three boundaries in the first over from Naseem Shah. ■