England’s hopes of wrapping up a series whitewash against Pakistan in just three days were shattered by a stunning late‑afternoon onslaught from 21‑year‑old Razaullah. The youngster’s six‑hammering display turned the final Test at Edgbaston into a dramatic showdown and ensured Pakistan escaped with a vital lead. On a day that had seemed to favour the hosts, Pakistan found themselves in a precarious position when their eighth wicket fell early in the evening session.
The score was still two runs behind the target, and the momentum appeared to be swinging towards England. Razaullah, however, stepped in with a fearless approach, striking 81 runs from just 63 balls.
His innings featured nine towering sixes, a feat that matched the debut record set by Tim Southee and underscored his raw power. Razaullah’s explosive partnership with Mohammad Abbas, who contributed a quick‑fire 42, added 121 runs for the seventh wicket.
Abbas himself smashed two sixes before being dismissed by a sharp point catch off Josh Tongue in the closing overs. The partnership not only rescued Pakistan from a potential collapse but also set a target that would prove too steep for England to chase on the final day. The young batsman’s spell was finally brought to an end when he was stumped off the bowling of Dan Lawrence (2‑17). The dismissal also marked the end of the day’s play, leaving England with a daunting chase of 130 runs on the fourth day – a target far higher than the initial projections and one that would require a flawless batting display to achieve.
A quick recap of the match statistics highlights the ebb and flow of the contest. Pakistan were bowled out for 133 in 33.5 overs in their first innings, with contributions from Saud Shakeel (43) and Abbas (21). England responded with a massive 453 in 89 overs, featuring half‑centuries from Harry Brook (75), Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65), Emilio Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50). Razaullah also made his mark with the ball, claiming four wickets for 148 runs.
In the second innings, Pakistan posted 449 in 96.4 overs, establishing a 129‑run lead. Shan Masood (95) and Babar Azam (76) anchored the innings, while Razaullah’s rapid 81 added the finishing flourish. England’s bowlers, particularly Gus Atkinson (3‑109), struggled to contain the Pakistani onslaught, and the hosts were left to contemplate a chase that seemed increasingly unlikely.
Both Masood and Babar missed chances to convert their innings into centuries, the series’ first hundred. Masood was caught on a spectacular diving catch by Dan Lawrence in the slips, while Babar fell to a short‑ball trap set by England just after tea, a dismissal that left many spectators puzzled. After the fall of four wickets for 40 runs, the Pakistani innings appeared to be on the brink of collapse.
Yet Razaullah’s aggressive intent changed the narrative. Resuming the third morning at 52‑2, the visitors added a modest 15 runs in the first 7.2 overs before exploding for 117 runs in the next 20 deliveries.
The only blemish in this burst was the dismissal of Azan Awais (59), caught off a delicate edge to Lawrence. England’s four‑pronged pace attack, which had struggled throughout the series, found a brief resurgence after the lunch break. Atkinson’s eight‑over spell was particularly effective, earning him his second wicket of the series when he dismissed Masood, again caught by Lawrence in the slips.
Babar Azam, who was poised for his first Test century in nearly four years, fell victim to a well‑executed bouncer plan. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue employed short‑ball tactics, and Babar, despite repeated warnings, could not resist the lure.
Tongue eventually claimed the wicket (2‑106), while Archer (1‑120) removed Saud Shakeel (29) shortly after tea with another short‑ball delivery. Jordan Cox contributed two crucial catches behind the stumps, dismissing debutants Ghazi Ghori (16) and Mohammad Imran (4).
Atkinson (3‑109) continued to probe both the inside and outside edges of the Pakistani batsmen, showcasing his skill despite the overall pressure. Razaullah’s all‑round performance was a highlight of the match.
In the first innings he had already taken four wickets, including England’s leading run‑scorer Joe Root in his very first over. His second‑innings batting display, with nine sixes, propelled Pakistan to a 129‑run advantage. The drama peaked when an LBW decision against Lawrence was overturned on review, only for Razaullah to be dismissed on the very next ball, ending the day’s play.
Speaking to Sky Sports Cricket after his innings, Razaullah reflected 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." Urooj Mumtaz of Sky Sports Cricket praised the youngster: "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 challenging fourth‑day chase of 130 runs. While the target is modest compared with the massive first‑innings total, the psychological edge has shifted to Pakistan, who have shown resilience and explosive firepower through Razaullah’s debut. The final day promises a tense conclusion, with both sides aware that a single session could decide the series outcome. View the live coverage of day four of the third Test between England and Pakistan on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Saturday.
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