England's Joe Root, left, and Harry Brook look toward the big screen during the third day of the first test cricket match between Pakistan and England, in Multan, Pakistan. (AP )

MULTAN, Pakistan, Oct 9, (AP):  Joe Root celebrated his record-breaking day with a resolute 35th century as England cruised to 492-3 on Day 3 of the first cricket test against Pakistan on Wednesday.

Root overtook Alastair Cook as England’s top run-scorer in tests to make an unbeaten 176 and his Yorkshire teammate Harry Brook compiled a spectacular 141 not out off 173 balls on a placid pitch of Multan Cricket Stadium. The two have combined for a 243-run partnership, hitting 24 boundaries between them, and made Pakistan bowlers toil hard on a benign wicket that hasn’t deteriorated over the last three days.

 England now trails Pakistan by 64 runs through its usual "Bazball” aggressive batting in 3 1/2 sessions, in comparison to the home team’s score of 556 over 5 1/2 sessions. Root overcame cramps in intense hot weather to bat the entire day after resuming on 32. He also featured in two other century stands with Ben Duckett (84) and Zak Crawley (78), who were the only wickets to fall in the first two sessions.

"It’s pretty cool being out there in the middle with him (Root),” Duckett said after sharing a 136-run partnership with Root. "One of the greats of the game and certainly greats of English cricket.”

Brook followed his 108 at the same venue two years ago, with another belligerent century as Pakistan couldn’t separate his pairing with Root even after taking the second new ball. But Pakistan head coach Jason Gillespie hoped his fast bowlers would not let England run away with a meaningful lead when play resumes on Thursday.