Debutant Razaullah produced a spectacular late-innings display on Friday, delaying England’s pursuit of a 3-0 series sweep in the third Test at Edgbaston. With the tourists teetering on the brink of defeat, the fast bowler launched an aggressive assault, smashing nine sixes in a blistering 81 off just 63 balls.
The late-day heroics, supported by fellow paceman Mohammad Abbas, saw Pakistan climb from a precarious 318-8 to 439-9. The duo’s 121-run partnership for the ninth wicket left England’s attack struggling to contain the momentum. Abbas, contributing 42, was eventually dismissed by Josh Tongue, caught by Gus Atkinson, before Razaullah was stumped by Jordan Cox off Dan Lawrence in the final over.
Earlier in the match, Pakistan showed rare resilience, with Shan Masood scoring 95 and captain Babar Azam adding 76. This marked the first time in six attempts this series that the heavily revamped side surpassed 200 runs. Following a first-innings deficit of 320, Pakistan lost two wickets for no runs on Thursday, but a recovery led by Azan Awais, who made 59, and Masood provided a foundation.
The morning session saw Awais caught down the leg side by stand-in keeper Cox off Lawrence. Masood later fell just short of a century, dismissed by a sharp slip catch from Lawrence off Atkinson. Azam, returning after a hand injury, batted with composure until a thin edge off a Tongue delivery saw him caught by Cox.
The middle order struggled as Saud Shakeel was caught by Emilio Gay for 29, while Ghazi Ghori and Mohammad Imran also fell to catches by Cox. However, the mood shifted when Razaullah arrived at the crease. He signaled his intent by hitting three sixes off Atkinson in four deliveries, later reaching his half-century in 43 balls with a massive strike off Jofra Archer.
Razaullah’s performance was a rare bright spot for a team that has faced significant turmoil, having released seven players and dismissed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul following the second Test defeat. His innings included four fours and nine sixes, building on the four wickets he claimed during England’s first innings.
England, who bowled Pakistan out for a meager 133 on the opening day before posting 453, now require 130 runs on Saturday to complete the series whitewash. Joe Root’s side has been dominant throughout the series, having secured victories by an innings and 103 runs in the opener and 194 runs in the second Test. The report also notes that with England seemingly powerless to stop the carnage late on the third day, fellow paceman Mohammad Abbas also joined the party as the pair took the score from 318-8 to 439-9. The report also notes that with the home home side needing to score 130 to wrap up a 3-0 win after dominating the series, it means the teams will have to come back on Saturday. The report also notes that pakistan, facing a first-innings deficit of 320, lost two wickets without scoring a single run on Thursday but opener Azan Awais and the experienced Masood took the score to 125. The report also notes that clubbing three sixes off Atkinson in four balls and the pair brought up their fifty partnership off just 57 balls, debutant paceman Razaullah showed his intent early. The report also notes that inspired, Abbas, with a previous top Test score of 29, smashed Ollie Robinson for six.
