Brook’s 115-ball innings, including the second-fastest 91-ball innings in a Test, gave England the lead at the Basin Reserves, with New Zealand finishing on 5,198 for 86, behind the tourists’ opening effort of 280. -The trio reached 3 for 26 after Joe Root went down, hitting some bold shots, including pushing Nathan Smith off the ground for the first of three. Additional covers add 6 pieces.
It started immediately with a counterattack in a hugely spaced pitch. Brook, who had dropped 171 for five in the first Test last week, had no chance throughout until some leisurely running saw Smith run out after his tea.
“I think it’s probably my favorite 100 so far,” Brooke said. “I really enjoyed it.
“It was just the way it was. I was 3-for-26 when I came in and the pitch was going pretty well. There was seaming and swinging and I was happy to get on attack mode and really take it to them. Put the pressure on them.
“Obviously that pitch (Multan) was extremely flat. You just had to lean on it and the outfielders were so fast that it was fours. Here, with the game situation, the pitch and the way I played… like I was really putting a lot of pressure on them. I mean.
“It’s a very special feeling. Most of the balls hit the middle of the bat. It feels good to hit it like that.”
“They are new, young cricketers – world-class players – and that person is Rachin (Yashasvi Jaiswal) from India,” Smith said. “You put those guys in the same category. He’s world-class right there.”
This spanned Brook’s seven centuries overseas, taking his average score to 91.50 in 10 Tests. All of them have played for Pakistan (six times) and New Zealand (four times) and are yet to play for India or Australia.
“I’ve only played in two countries. Things might change if you go to another country,” Brook said. “The pitches in Pakistan are generally very good to bat on. Here you see pitches that are fast and bouncy and I think you can play a variety of shots.”
“I think the speed of the ball after he got that no-ball wicket was 92/93mph,” Brook said. “He was quite angry. Every team needs a player like him. He bowls at 90mph, dives, takes amazing catches, can come out with the bat and hit four runs off the first ball. He can help us “He is an invaluable asset to me and an incredibly good friend.”
