England’s hopes of wrapping up a series whitewash against Pakistan in just three days were shattered by an electrifying display of power hitting from 21‑year‑old debutant Razaullah on Friday evening. After a dismal start to the series, Pakistan seized their best day of the contest, pulling back into the game with a dramatic surge that left the hosts scrambling for a realistic target on the final day.
When Pakistan’s eighth wicket fell early in the evening session, the visitors were still trailing by two runs. Razaullah then exploded, scoring 81 runs from just 63 balls – a blitz that included nine towering sixes and matched Tim Southee’s record for the most sixes by a debutant in Test cricket. His on‑fire innings propelled a 121‑run partnership with Mohammad Abbas, who contributed a quickfire 42 and struck two sixes of his own before being caught at point off the bowling of Josh Tongue.
Razaullah’s assault was finally halted when he was stumped by England’s wicket‑keeper Dan Lawrence, who recorded figures of 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 steeper than the modest total they had initially expected, yet still within reach if they could regroup and apply themselves.
**Match Summary** - Pakistan 1st innings: 133 all out (33.5 overs) – top scorers Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21; England bowlers: Josh Tongue 4‑42, Ollie Robinson 3‑15, Jofra Archer 3‑25. - England 1st innings: 453 all out (89 overs) – major contributions from Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50; Pakistan bowler Razaullah 4‑148. - Pakistan 2nd innings: 449 all out (96.4 overs) – leading scores Shan Masood 95, Razaullah 81 (63 balls), Babar Azam 76, Azan Awais 59; England bowler Gus Atkinson 3‑109. The Pakistani batting line‑up, despite a promising start, missed out on a series‑defining century.
Both Shan Masood and Babar Azam fell short of the 100‑run mark, each being dismissed after reaching the mid‑90s. Masood’s dismissal came via a spectacular one‑handed, low‑slip catch by Dan Lawrence, while Babar’s wicket was more perplexing – the captain walked into a short‑ball trap set by England just as tea was about to begin. After the fall of four wickets for 40 runs, the situation seemed bleak for Pakistan, but Razaullah had other ideas. His aggressive approach turned the tide, extending Pakistan’s lead to 129 runs and forcing England to contemplate a challenging chase on the final day.
When the third Test resumed on the morning of day three, Pakistan were 52‑2. The opening partnership was cautious, adding only 15 runs in the first 7.2 overs. Then the tempo shifted dramatically: the side rattled off 117 runs in the next 20 balls, with the wicket of Azan Awais (caught behind off Lawrence) the only blemish in an otherwise explosive spell.
England’s four‑man pace attack, which had struggled for breakthroughs throughout the series, found a brief resurgence after lunch. Gus Atkinson delivered a decisive eight‑over spell, claiming his second wicket of the series by dismissing Masood, who fell to a superb catch by Lawrence in the slips. Babar Azam, poised for what could have been his first Test century in nearly four years, fell victim to a short‑ball strategy employed by Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue. Tongue eventually dismissed him, catching Babar gloving behind the stumps, while Archer later removed Saud Shakeel with another short‑ball that was only managed as a lofted shot to short‑leg.
Jordan Cox contributed two vital catches behind the stumps, dismissing debutants Ghazi Ghori and Mohammad Imran, both trapped by Atkinson’s disciplined line and length. Meanwhile, Razaullah, already impressive with the ball – having taken four wickets in England’s first innings, including that of leading run‑scorer Joe Root with his very first over – turned the spotlight onto his batting. His 81‑run blitz, punctuated by nine sixes, not only gave Pakistan a solid lead but also infused the team with confidence for the final day.
The drama peaked when an lbw decision against Lawrence was overturned on review, only for Razaullah to be dismissed on the very next ball – the final wicket of the day. In a post‑match interview with Sky Sports Cricket, the young all‑rounder reflected on his performance: "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 moment perfectly: "That was simply sensational – a perfectly written first chapter of his Test career.
All that passion, the flair of Pakistan cricket. A 21‑year‑old who wasn't even on the squad list gets on the plane, receives his baggy green, takes Joe Root’s wicket in his first over, claims a four‑for on debut, and then smashes 81 with nine sixes. The whole stadium was on its feet.
He arrived with no baggage, bringing the spark, energy, and exuberance of youth that teams crave. He smiled, never looked overwhelmed, and seemed to believe in himself. If anyone is betting, after today’s performance that dimming light has been reignited.
Razaullah gives Pakistan a new dimension with his pace and power, and they’ll have to believe in that. Looking ahead, England will need to chase 130 on day four – a target that, while modest compared with typical Test chases, will test their resolve after a day of missed opportunities and a series‑long struggle against a revitalised Pakistani side. The final day promises a tense showdown, with both teams aware that a single session could decide whether England records a historic home series whitewash or Pakistan salvages a respectable draw.
Fans can watch the fourth day live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Saturday, with streaming options available for those without a traditional Sky subscription.