Record-breaking Root hits hundred as England power to 351-3

Multan, Pakistan: Joe Root hit a magnificent hundred on Wednesday to guide England to 351 3 at tea on the third day of the opening Test against Pakist...

Multan, Pakistan: Joe Root hit a magnificent hundred on Wednesday to guide England to 351-3 at tea on the third day of the opening Test against Pakistan in Multan after breaking Alastair Cook's Test runs record.

The 33-year-old became England's highest run scorer in Tests, and the fifth highest of all time, when he drove Pakistan seamer Aamer Jamal for a straight boundary to reach 71 just before lunch.

In the second session he reverse swept spinner Abrar Ahmed for a single to reach his 35th Test hundred -- the sixth most by any batsman -- before going to the interval on an imperious 119 not out.

Harry Brook scored his 10th Test half century and was 64 not out, leaving England 205 behind Pakistan's first innings total of 556. Root has so far notched eight fours to Brook's seven.

Root and Brook's fourth-wicket stand has so far yielded 102 runs as a flat Multan stadium pitch continued to give no assistance to the bowlers.