England’s hopes of wrapping up a series sweep against Pakistan in just three days were shattered by an extraordinary late‑day onslaught from 21‑year‑old debutant Razaullah. The youngster’s explosive 81 runs from only 63 balls, punctuated by nine towering sixes, turned what had been a bleak series for Pakistan into a memorable day of cricket and left England with a daunting target to chase on the final day. The match at Edgbaston had been tilting heavily in England’s favour.
After Pakistan’s first innings collapsed for 133, England posted a massive 453, thanks to a flurry of half‑centuries from Harry Brook (75), Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65), Emilio Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50). Razaullah, who had already made an impact with the ball by taking four wickets – including a prized scalp of Joe Root in his very first over – was now called upon to rescue his side with the bat. When Pakistan’s eighth wicket fell early in the evening session, the visitors were still trailing by two runs.
Razaullah walked in at the crease with the series hanging in the balance. What followed was a masterclass in power‑hitting. He struck the ball cleanly over the boundary on nine occasions, matching the record set by Tim Southee for the most sixes by a debutant in Test cricket.
His aggressive intent paid off quickly; he amassed 81 runs in just 63 deliveries, a strike rate that would have made any limited‑overs specialist proud. Razaullah’s innings was built on a solid 121‑run partnership with fellow bowler Mohammad Abbas, who contributed a quickfire 42.
Abbas himself hit two sixes before being dismissed, caught at point off the bowling of Josh Tongue in the closing overs. Razaullah’s fireworks came to an abrupt end when he was stumped off the bowling of Dan Lawrence (2‑17), but not before he had turned the tide of the match. The impact of his knock was immediate.
Pakistan moved from a precarious position to a commanding 129‑run lead, setting England a target of 130 runs to win on day four. While the required total was modest compared to the 453 they had already posted, the psychological pressure of chasing after a dramatic reversal was significant. England, who had lost focus in the final session of day three, now faced the challenge of regaining composure and securing what would have been a historic home series whitewash against Pakistan. A brief recap of the innings that led to this climax: - **First innings – Pakistan:** 133 all out in 33.5 overs.
Top scores: Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21. England bowlers Josh Tongue (4‑42), Ollie Robinson (3‑15) and Jofra Archer (3‑25) shared the wickets. - **First innings – England:** 453 all out in 89 overs.
Contributions: Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50. Razaullah took 4‑148 with the ball. - **Second innings – Pakistan:** 449 all out in 96.4 overs, leading by 129.
Notable scores: Shan Masood 95, Razaullah 81 (63 balls), Babar Azam 76, Azan Awais 59. Gus Atkinson claimed 3‑109. Pakistan’s batting in the second innings was anchored by the experienced pair of Shan Masood and Babar Azam, both of whom came close to centuries but fell short.
Masood was dismissed after a spectacular one‑handed diving catch by Dan Lawrence in the slips, while Babar walked into a well‑planned short‑ball trap set by England just before tea, a dismissal that left many observers scratching their heads. After the fall of four wickets for just 40 runs, it appeared the Pakistani resistance might crumble. Yet Razaullah had other ideas.
Resuming on the third morning at 52‑2, Pakistan’s innings began cautiously, adding only 15 runs in the first 7.2 overs. Then, in a breathtaking surge, they rattled off 117 runs in the next 20 balls, with Razaullah’s bat doing most of the damage. The only blemish in this blitz was the dismissal of Azan Awais (59), caught off a fine edge to Lawrence.
England’s four‑man pace attack, which had struggled to make inroads throughout the series, finally found some rhythm after the lunch break. Gus Atkinson delivered a potent eight‑over spell, picking up his second wicket of the series by removing Masood, again thanks to Lawrence’s sharp fielding. Babar Azam, who was on the verge of his first Test hundred in almost four years, fell to a barrage of short‑ball tactics from Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue.
Tongue eventually claimed Babar’s wicket (2‑106) after the batsman mis‑timed a bouncer, while Archer (1‑120) dismissed Saud Shakeel (29) with a short‑ball that rose to short‑leg. Fielding heroics continued as Jordan Cox took two spectacular catches behind the stumps, dismissing debutants Ghazi Ghori (16) and Mohammad Imran (4).
Atkinson (3‑109) was instrumental in finding the edges of both batsmen, showcasing the all‑round effort of the English side. Razaullah’s performance was a dual showcase of his all‑round abilities.
Not only did he claim four first‑innings wickets – including the prized scalp of England’s leading run‑scorer Joe Root – but his batting on day three provided the spark Pakistan needed. His 81‑run blitz, capped with nine sixes, gave Pakistan a 129‑run cushion and shifted the momentum dramatically. The drama didn’t end there. Late in the evening, an LBW decision against Lawrence was overturned on review, only for Razaullah to be dismissed on the very next ball, marking the final wicket of the day.
After the innings, Razaullah spoke to Sky Sports Cricket, reflecting on his approach: "I just had to bat, you are the ones who got to enjoy it. I was planning to take it longer and deeper – 81 runs is not bad though. I was just trying to provide support for the other batters and trying to take it as deep as possible.
There was no point at which I didn't enjoy it or when I was scared. I won't give any messages to the batters – they can do their bit – but I really, really enjoyed it. I was wanting the strike, and overall I wanted to keep the strike as long as possible to get Pakistan another day." Sky Sports commentator Urooj Mumtaz summed up the impact of the young prodigy: "That was simply sensational.
A perfectly written first chapter of his Test career. All that passion, the flair of Pakistan cricket. One 21‑year‑old who wasn’t even on the squad list gets on the plane and gets his baggy green – Joe Root is his first Test wicket, a four‑for on debut, and then 81 with nine sixes – all of Edgbaston and all of Pakistan were on their feet. He’s come off the plane and has absolutely no baggage.
That's the spark, the energy, the exuberance of youth that you are looking for. There was a smile on his face and he was not overwhelmed by the occasion.
He didn't look in awe of it – he almost looked like he believed. If anyone is a betting person, after what's happened today, it's almost like that dimming light has been ignited again. You never know. Razaullah provides Pakistan a point of difference with pace, and they'll have to believe." England now faces a decisive fourth day.
With a target of 130, they must chase a modest total but under the shadow of a revived Pakistani side. The match promises to be a test of nerves for both teams, and the outcome will determine whether England can still claim a historic home series whitewash or if Pakistan will escape with a hard‑earned draw. View the fourth day live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Saturday, or explore streaming options if you don’t have a Sky subscription.