England secured a comprehensive home series whitewash against Pakistan, despite a nervous start, by chasing down a modest target of 130 on the fourth day of the third Test at Edgbaston. The prospect of a loss seemed far‑fetched after England’s bowlers, led by Ollie Robinson, had skittled Pakistan to 0‑2 early on the second evening, leaving the visitors still 320 runs behind. Yet the match teetered on a knife‑edge when England lost two wickets in the very first over of the fourth morning, reigniting fears of a possible collapse. Ben Duckett, who had endured a miserable series, was the first to fall in the chase, caught on the first ball by Mohammad Abbas (2‑27).
The dismissal was followed quickly by another, as Emilio Gay was given out lbw to the same bowler, leaving England at a precarious 0‑2. The early setbacks could have set the tone for a disastrous finish, but the England captain, Joe Root, steadied the ship. Root, unbeaten on 62, forged a resilient 128‑run partnership with the young Jordan Cox, who contributed a composed 59 not out. Their stand guided England to the target with seven wickets in hand after 24.2 overs, sealing an eight‑wicket victory.
**First innings – Pakistan** Pakistan’s first innings collapsed to 133 all out in just 33.5 overs. The top‑order struggled, with Saud Shakeel scoring 43 and Mohammad Abbas adding 21 before being dismissed. England’s bowlers shared the spoils: Josh Tongue took 4‑42, Ollie Robinson claimed 3‑15 and Jofra Archer added 3‑25, dismantling the Pakistani batting line‑up. **First innings – England** England responded robustly, amassing 453 all out over 89 overs.
The innings featured several half‑centuries: Harry Brook (75), Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65), Emilio Gay (60) and Ollie Robinson (50). Pakistan’s lone bowler, Razaullah, toiled hard, ending with figures of 4‑148, but the English batsmen’s collective effort proved too much. **Second innings – Pakistan** In their second effort, Pakistan posted 449 all out in 96.4 overs, a total that gave England a realistic chance of a win.
Shan Masood led with 95, while Razaullah exploded with an aggressive 81 off just 63 balls, matching Tim Southee’s record for the most sixes (nine) by a debutant in a Test innings. Babar Azam contributed 76 and Azan Awais added 59. Gus Atkinson took 3‑109 for England. **Second innings – England** Chasing 130, England needed only a modest total to clinch the series.
Root’s 62 not out and Cox’s 59 not out guided the visitors to 130‑2 in 24.2 overs, securing the win by eight wickets. Mohammad Abbas, who had earlier troubled England, finished with 2‑27 in the second innings. The match featured a few controversial moments. In the first innings, Mohammad Ali over‑stepped when delivering a ball that struck Root for 23, resulting in a no‑ball that allowed England to continue their innings at 35‑2.
Such moments could have altered the outcome, but England’s composure prevailed. Cox’s half‑century bolsters his case for retaining a spot in the England XI ahead of the upcoming three‑match Test tour of South Africa, which begins on 17 December.
The squad may also see the return of Jacob Bethell, who missed the Pakistan series through injury. Speculation arises whether Bethell or Cox could open the batting in place of Emilio Gay, and whether Cox might take on wicket‑keeping duties should Jamie Smith remain sidelined with a finger injury. Historically, defending a target of 130 or fewer in a Test has been rare.
The last instance in England was the 1997 Ashes at The Oval, when England set Australia 124 and bowled them out for 104. The most recent successful defence of such a low total was in 1993, when New Zealand were dismissed for 93 while chasing 127 at Hamilton. Pakistan’s brief hope of replicating that feat added extra drama to the final day.
Despite the overall disappointment of a 3‑0 series loss, Pakistan showed resilience in the final Test, extending the contest into the fourth day and setting a target that briefly unsettled England. The emergence of 21‑year‑old debutant Razaullah offers a glimmer of optimism for Pakistan; his rapid 81 off 63 balls, punctuated by nine sixes, will be remembered as a highlight of the series.
England’s clean sweep reflects a strong return for captain Joe Root, who took over after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket earlier in the summer. Root’s post‑match comments highlighted the team’s ability to navigate uncertainty and noise, praising the clinical nature of their performance and the partnership that secured the win.
He noted the importance of contributions from across the squad and expressed confidence heading into the winter and upcoming tours. Former England opener Mark Butcher, speaking for Sky Sports Cricket, praised the side’s ability to handle pressure, noting that the series provided valuable lessons for adapting to varying conditions, especially with the forthcoming South African tour where the ball may not move laterally as much.
He also mentioned a slight concern over the lack of centuries but overall lauded the team’s dominance. Urooj Mumtaz, also of Sky Sports Cricket, offered a stark assessment of Pakistan cricket, pointing out a series of recent failures: a loss to England, a draw in the West Indies, and a defeat to Bangladesh at home.
She highlighted that Pakistan have lost 11 of their last 12 away Tests and 15 of their last 20 overall, underscoring the need for substantial structural improvements to revive Pakistan’s fortunes. Fans can continue to follow England’s summer campaign, including the white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, on Sky Sports. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream matches contract‑free via NOW.