Reports are it’s nice and sunny in Lahore. Should be a belter of a day. Expect loads of runs.

Preamble

Daniel Gallan

For the past two days, I’ve not been able to get Harry Brook out of my mind.

What has been going through his head since he clobbered and caressed his way to the fastest double-century in ODI history, a staggering 202 from 116 balls, only to watch his bowlers fail to defend 430?

What’s the equivalent in another sport? Scoring six goals in football only for your defence to concede seven in the second half? Hitting every fairway in golf, then four-putting every green?

Brook is back in action as England face Pakistan for the second time in this tri-series. Pakistan won the teams’ previous meeting by 87 runs, with Brook making five as England’s batters folded against Arafat Minhas’ six-for; bowled out for 215.

A win would send Pakistan into the final with a game to spare, and they have the chance to do it at their Lahore HQ. For England, a third straight defeat in this format, less than a year before the World Cup, would deepen the questions. They need to put together a complete performance.

Will they do it? We’ll find out when things get going at 8am UK time.

Got your coffee and toast? Let’s get stuck in!