Despite Babar Hundred, England is in charge in Rawalpindi

• Pakistan reach 499-7 on day three of the first test in Rawalpindi.
• They are still 158 runs behind England’s first innings total of 657.
• Babar Azam becomes the sixth batter to score a century for Pakistan.

On day three of a real runfest in the first test against England in Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam became the sixth batter to score a century, but the visitors are still on track to take a commanding first innings lead.

Pakistan reached 499-7 on day three because to a trio of home hitters who helped themselves to centuries after an English quartet smashed hundreds on Friday.

When play was suspended because to poor lighting, Pakistan was still 158 runs behind England’s enormous first innings total of 657. Agha Salman was batting at position 10 while Zahid Mahmood was at position 1 at the other end.

A fantastic day, England batsman Joe Root afterwards remarked to Sky Sports. All of our hard effort paid off in that last session.

“It was attritional. We had to be creative throughout the day and we got our rewards at the end,” he said.

However, batting records kept falling on the quiet pitch as all four openers made test match history by scoring hundreds in the first innings.

Imam-ul-Haq (121) and Abdullah Shafique (114), the team’s two openers, promptly reached their hundreds after resuming on 181 without loss before England struck with its spinners.

The 225 runs Imam and Shafique scored together came very close to matching the 233 runs that Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett scored for England in their opening stand.

The Pakistani openers, though, were quickly replaced after 65 overs of keeping England from making a breakthrough.

Abdullah was the first test opponent for Will Jacks (3-132) after attempting a cut shot but deflecting the ball into Ollie Pope’s awaiting gloves.

Thirteen fours and three sixes were part of Abdullah’s third test century.

By tricking the left-hander into stepping out, Jack Leach eliminated Imam, only to discover Ollie Robinson at long on.

Imam scored his third test hundred, all of which have happened at Rawalpindi, with 15 fours and two sixes.

Azhar Ali (27), who was spilt by Crawley at leg slip and was given an extra life on 20, was unable to take advantage and shortly thereafter was lbw by Leach.

Babar was as steadfast as ever. Ben Stokes, his English opponent, attempted to bounce him out on an unresponsive field, but Babar had no trouble repeatedly dragging him.

With a four off Stokes, he eventually reached his eighth test century and first against England. He then said a brief prayer before continuing to bat.

In the fourth session, England took four wickets to keep the upper hand.

In the first over following tea, Robinson got rid of Saud Shakeel (37), and Babar was the next to depart, fluffing a cut shot against Jacks. 19 fours and a six were scattered among Babar’s 136.

“We have three big wickets to take in the morning, then we will try and crash some around and get up to a reasonable total,” England’s Root said.

Ramiz Raja, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board, called the surface at Rawalpindi’s stadium “embarrassing” and attributed its poor condition on the absence of test matches there.