Pakistan set England 130 to win at Edgbaston after Razaullah hits 81

Top-order recovery at Edgbaston

Pakistan entered the third day facing a 268-run deficit after England compiled 453 in their first innings. Having been dismissed for 133 in the first innings and slipping to nought for two on Thursday evening in Ollie Robinson's opening over, Pakistan resumed on 55-2. Shan Masood and Azan Awais constructed a 125-run third-wicket partnership, the tourists' first century stand across the series. Masood survived chances on 29 and 40, including a spilled catch by substitute fielder Theo Wylie, before Dan Lawrence dismissed Awais for 59 on a reviewed caught-behind decision. Masood added 89 runs with Babar Azam before Gus Atkinson removed Masood for 95 via a diving catch by Lawrence at gully.

Middle-order dismissals and lower-order counter

Babar posted 76, his first half-century in the series following earlier scores of eight, six, and seven, before England turned to short deliveries around the tea interval. Josh Tongue dismissed Babar with a rising delivery gloved to wicketkeeper Jordan Cox, who deputised for the injured Jamie Smith. Jofra Archer removed Saud Shakeel directly after tea, leaving Pakistan at 318-8, four runs behind England's first-innings total. Having failed to reach 200 in their five prior innings on tour, Pakistan appeared close to a three-day defeat before 21-year-old debutant Razaullah and Mohammad Abbas intervened.

Shan Masood95

Razaullah81

Babar Azam76

Azan Awais59

Mohammad Abbas42

Shan Masood

95 runs

Razaullah

81 runs

Babar Azam

76 runs

Azan Awais

59 runs

Mohammad Abbas

42 runs

Data from the article text

Razaullah and Abbas stage late assault

Razaullah, who took 4-148 in England's first innings and dismissed Joe Root with his fourth ball in Test cricket, launched a sustained attack from number nine. The 21-year-old reached a fifty in 43 balls and struck 81 from 63 deliveries, hitting nine sixes and four fours while breaking two of his three bats. His nine sixes equalled the Test debut record shared with Tim Southee and matched Ben Stokes's mark for the most sixes in a Test innings in England. Mohammad Abbas registered a career-high 42 with two sixes, forming a 121-run ninth-wicket partnership off 123 balls before Razaullah was stumped off Lawrence on the stroke of 7:00 PM to end the innings at 449.

“I was just attacking. If the ball was there to be hit, I went for it.”

Match scenario and post-day reactions

Pakistan's total sets England a fourth-innings target of 130 runs on Saturday to secure a 3-0 series sweep. England interim coach Marcus Trescothick defended England's bowling approach during the final session, crediting the quality of Pakistan's lower-order ball-striking.

“You've got to give a bit more credit to them rather than trying to target everything that we've tried to do.”

Former England captain Alastair Cook criticised England's tactics during the late onslaught, stating that the bowling unit lacked a coherent plan and required leadership from the coaching staff. Mohammad Abbas noted after play that Pakistan still maintain an outside possibility of victory despite the low target.