Watch: Ben Stokes was run out in a farcical mix-up with Harry Brook in the third Pakistan-England Test, but made sure to let his partner know there were no hard feelings as he walked off.

The unfortunate dismissal came at a crucial time, with England stuttering in response to Pakistan’s 304. Brook and Stokes had added 45, taking the score from 98-4 to 143-4 when disaster struck.

Brook played the stroke well, flicking out to midwicket with confidence. Brook seemed content with two, but Stokes raced back in an attempt at three, which may well have been completed had Brook been as eager. Instead, Azhar Ali raced round the boundary rope and cut off the ball before firing a throw back into the bowler, who had the simple task of taking off the bails at the non-striker’s end.

The confusion was made even greater with Stokes and Brook in a race to get back in first, with Brook putting his bat down just before his captain. Stokes made sure to assuage Brook’s guilt, extending a thumbs-up to him as he left the field.

“Utter confusion in the middle,” said Nasser Hussain on commentary. “And it’s Ben Stokes and the door’s been opened. Thumbs up to Brook, but utter, utter confusion.”

Brook remained confident after the dismissal, taking England past 200 in the company of Ben Foakes.

Watch the Brook and Stokes mix-up below:

Never ideal when both batters end up at the same end… 😶#PAKvENGpic.twitter.com/oa126Nazyk

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 18, 2022