Harry Brook’s remarkable series against Pakistan continued on Sunday as he smashed a fighting hundred to rebuild England’s first innings, taking them to 254-5 at tea on the second day of the final Test in Karachi.

The 23-year-old drove spinner Abrar Ahmed for his eighth boundary to reach his third career hundred — all in this series — with his Test debut coming in September.

Batting alongside Ben Foakes, Brook revived England’s innings after they lost Ben Duckett (26), Joe Root (nought) and Ollie Pope (51) in the morning session.

At tea, Brook was unbeaten on 108 and Foakes 42 in a 109-run unbroken partnership for the sixth wicket that has brought England within 50 runs of Pakistan’s first innings total of 304.

England were struggling at 145-5 soon after lunch, when Ben Stokes (26) attempted a third run which Brook turned down only to see his skipper stranded.

England lead the three-match series 2-0 after winning the first Test in Rawalpindi by 74 runs and Multan’s second Test by 26 runs.

Brook has once again taken the attack to the Pakistan bowlers like he did with his twin centuries in the first two Tests, having also hit three sixes.

In the morning session, spinners Nauman Ali and Ahmed shared three wickets.

With the National Stadium pitch offering turn, left-armer Nauman trapped Duckett leg before and had the experienced Root caught low in the slip by Agha Salman for nought on the next ball.

Pope stood firm amidst the dual wicket fall, reaching his 11th fifty before he was bowled by Ahmed for 51, adding to the wicket he took on Saturday. Pope hit four boundaries in his knock.

Earlier, spinner Numan Ali struck early but captain Ben Stokes and Harry Brook roared back to guide England to 140/4 at lunch on day one.

At the break, Stokes was unbeaten on 25, while Brook was batting on 38.

Earlier, resuming the innings from 7-1 at the National Bank Cricket Arena, Ben Duckett, who was not out for four, and Ollie Pope, who scored three on Monday, started the proceedings with a positive intent.

They went on to add 51 runs in the first. However, Nauman Ali in the 14th over stuck gold, as he removed dangerous-looking Duckett (26) and Joe Root (0) on successive deliveries.

At that stage, England were reduced to 58-3.

Earlier, Babar Azam and Agha Salam hit half-centuries on day one as Pakistan were bowled out for 304.

Jack Leach bowled Abrar Ahmed (4) to end Pakistan’s first innings on Saturday. He ended up with the figures of four for 140.

Pakistan all-format captain Babar Azam once again showed his class as the hosts opted to bat. He scored 78 before taking a risky single only to end his brilliant innings. He was well supported by Agha Salman, who played a blinder of 56. The right-hander struck six boundaries.

Teenage spinner Rehan Ahmed got his first wicket for England before Pakistan reached 204-5 at tea. After making history by becoming the youngest player to debut for the side at 16 years and 126 days, Ahmed dismissed Saud Shakeel in his seventh over for 23.

Shakeel failed to keep a defensive shot down as Ollie Pope dived forward to take a brilliant catch, one of two wickets Pakistan lost in the session.

Rehan ended up with the figures of two for 89 in the innings.

Azam and Shakeel added 45 for the fourth wicket. Azam has batted superbly, stroking eight boundaries so far.

Mohammad Rizwan also failed as he lofted a catch off a Joe Root full toss for 19.

In the first session, Pakistan lost three wickets.

Azhar Ali – playing his last Test – fell at the stroke of lunch when he gloved a catch to a diving wicketkeeper Ben Foakes off pacer Ollie Robinson.

Azhar and Azam added 71 for the third wicket, repairing the innings after opener Abdullah Shafique fell for eight and Shan Masood 30.

Sensing the pitch would take a spin, England started the attack with left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who trapped Shafique leg-before in the sixth over of the day.

Masood fell to the trap of short bowling as he pulled fast bowler Mark Wood straight into the hands of deep fine-leg fielder Leach.

Masood hit five boundaries while Azhar had six hits to the ropes.

Hard-pressed to avoid their first-ever whitewash in a home series, Pakistan made four changes with Azhar, Masood, Mohammad Wasim and Nauman Ali drafted into the side.

England, who lead the series 2-0, brought Foakes and Ahmed into the side.

Before Ahmed, Brian Close was the youngest England debutant at 18 years and 149 days when he played against New Zealand in 1949.