England secured a clean‑sheet home series victory against Pakistan, wrapping up the three‑match Test contest with a decisive win on the fourth day of the final match at Edgbaston. The win came after a nervous start, with England needing to chase a modest target of 130 runs, but the seasoned campaigner Joe Root steadied the ship and, together with rising talent Jordan Cox, saw the visitors home without further drama. The prospect of England losing the Test seemed almost unimaginable when Pakistan’s pace bowler Ollie Robinson ripped through the visitors’ top order early on the second evening, reducing them to 0 for 2 while Pakistan still trailed by 320 runs. The situation appeared even more precarious when England’s own openers fell for ducks in the first over of the fourth morning, leaving the hosts teetering at 0 for 2 once again.
It was a moment that could have tilted the match in Pakistan’s favour, but the English side quickly recovered. Ben Duckett, who had endured a barren series, was the first to fall, nicking a delivery from Mohammad Abbas (who finished with figures of 2‑27) straight to the fielder.
Shortly after, Emilio Gay was dismissed lbw by the same bowler, completing a startling opening spell for Pakistan. The early setbacks, however, were short‑lived. Captain Joe Root, unbeaten on 62, forged a calm and measured fifty, and his partnership with the 22‑year‑old Jordan Cox, who contributed a solid 59, steadied the innings.
The pair added an unbroken 128 runs, guiding England to the required total in just 24.2 overs and clinching the match by eight wickets. **First‑innings summary** - Pakistan 133 all out in 33.5 overs (batting first). Notable contributions: Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21.
England bowlers: Josh Tongue 4‑42, Ollie Robinson 3‑15, Jofra Archer 3‑25. - England 453 all out in 89 overs.
Key scores: Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50. Pakistan’s Razaullah impressed with 4‑148. **Second‑innings summary** - Pakistan 449 all out in 96.4 overs. Highlights: Shan Masood 95, Razaullah 81 off 63 balls, Babar Azam 76, Azan Awais 59.
England bowler Gus Atkinson took 3‑109. - England 130‑2 in 24.2 overs (target). Standout innings: Joe Root 62 not out, Jordan Cox 59 not out. Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas claimed 2‑27.
A pivotal moment in the match arrived when Pakistan’s Mohammad Ali over‑stepped while delivering a ball to Root, resulting in a no‑ball that allowed the English captain to continue his innings at 35‑2. That mistake proved costly for the visitors, as England went on to chase down the target comfortably. Jordan Cox’s half‑century will likely bolster his case for retaining a place in England’s Test XI when the side embarks on its three‑match tour of South Africa beginning on 17 December. The squad will also welcome back Jacob Bethell, who missed the Pakistan series through injury.
There is speculation about whether Bethell or Cox might open the batting in place of Emilio Gay, who has been a regular at the top of the order. Should Gay stay on as opener, Cox could be considered for the wicket‑keeping duties, a role currently filled by Jamie Smith, who missed the second innings due to a finger injury and has three months to recover.
Pakistan’s brief hope of defending a sub‑130 total—a feat not achieved in England since New Zealand were bowled out for 93 while chasing 127 at Hamilton in 1993—was quickly dashed. The last time a team defended a target of 130 or less in England was during the 1997 Ashes at The Oval, when England set Australia 124 and bowled them out for 104.
Despite a largely disappointing series for Pakistan, the final Test displayed moments of resilience. Their ability to drag the contest into the fourth day and set a target that briefly unsettled England showed a fighting spirit that had been missing in earlier matches. One of the series’ bright spots was the emergence of 21‑year‑old Razaullah, a raw talent who made an immediate impact.
On just his fourth ball in Test cricket, he dismissed England’s all‑time run‑scorer Joe Root in the first innings and later claimed a four‑wicket haul. His batting on the third evening was equally memorable; after Pakistan’s eighth wicket fell, they still trailed by two runs, but Razaullah exploded for 81 runs off 63 deliveries, striking nine boundaries and matching Tim Southee’s record for most fours by a debutant. In the broader context, England’s 3‑0 series win underscores the successful transition of captaincy from Ben Stokes, who retired from international cricket earlier in the summer, to Joe Root.
Sky Sports analyst Mark Butcher praised the English side, noting that the occasional pressure they faced was beneficial for learning, especially ahead of the upcoming South Africa tour where conditions may differ and the ball may not move as much laterally. He did express a slight concern over the lack of centuries but highlighted the overall positive aspects of the series. Conversely, former Pakistan cricketer Urooj Mumtaz highlighted the deeper issues facing Pakistan cricket.
She pointed out a string of poor results: a series loss to England, a draw in the West Indies, and a home defeat to Bangladesh, noting that Pakistan have now lost 11 of their last 12 away Tests and 15 of their last 20 overall. These statistics, she argued, reflect serious structural problems that need addressing for Pakistan to rebuild and achieve sustained success. Looking ahead, English fans can continue to follow the national side’s summer campaign on Sky Sports, which will also broadcast the upcoming white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, starting with the first T20 International on Tuesday. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the matches contract‑free via NOW.