England’s hopes of wrapping up a clean sweep of Pakistan in the three‑day Test at Edgbaston were shattered by an extraordinary late‑day assault from 21‑year‑old Razaullah. The youngster’s explosive 81 runs off just 63 balls, punctuated by nine towering sixes, turned what had been a modest Pakistani lead into a commanding 129‑run advantage, effectively rescuing his side from defeat and denying the hosts a historic home whitewash.
The match had been slipping away from Pakistan for most of the series, but the final day of the third Test provided a dramatic reversal. After Pakistan’s eighth wicket fell early in the evening session, the visitors found themselves still two runs behind.
Razaullah arrived at the crease with the weight of the situation on his shoulders, yet he responded with a fearless display of power hitting that matched the record set by Tim Southee for the most sixes by a debutant. In just 63 deliveries he sent the ball over the boundary nine times, a feat that not only equalised Southee’s benchmark but also underscored his raw talent and composure under pressure.
Razaullah’s innings was built on a solid 121‑run partnership with fellow bowler Mohammad Abbas, who contributed 42 runs and added two sixes of his own before being dismissed by a sharp point‑catch off Josh Tongue in the closing overs. The partnership steadied the innings after early wickets and set the platform for Razaullah’s onslaught. His knock was finally halted when he was stumped by England’s wicket‑keeper Dan Lawrence, who recorded figures of 2‑17 in the innings. The dismissal also marked the end of the day’s play, leaving England with a target of 130 runs to chase on the final day – a modest total on paper but one that now seemed a steep climb after the damage inflicted by the young Pakistani.
The broader context of the match highlighted the ebb and flow of both sides. In Pakistan’s first innings, they were bowled out for 133 in just 33.5 overs, with Saud Shakeel (43) and Mohammad Abbas (21) providing the bulk of the runs, while England’s bowlers Josh Tongue (4‑42), Ollie Robinson (3‑15) and Jofra Archer (3‑25) shared the wickets. England responded strongly, posting 453 all out in 89 overs, thanks to a quartet of half‑centuries from Harry Brook (75), Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65) and Emilio Gay (60), plus a gritty 50 from Ollie Robinson. Razaullah himself contributed four wickets for 148 runs, showcasing his all‑round potential.
In the second innings, Pakistan posted 449 all out in 96.4 overs, securing a 129‑run lead. The innings featured a near‑century from Shan Masood (95) and a solid 76 from Babar Azam, both of whom fell short of the series’ first hundred. Masood’s dismissal came via a spectacular one‑handed diving catch by Lawrence in the slips, while Babar’s wicket was a head‑scratcher: he walked into a short‑ball trap set by England at tea, a miscalculation that proved costly for the visitors.
After the fall of four wickets for just 40 runs, the match seemed to be tilting decisively in England’s favour. However, Razaullah’s aggressive intent changed the narrative.
On the third morning, Pakistan were 52‑2 after a cautious start of 15 runs in the first 7.2 overs. Then, in a burst of attacking cricket, they rattled off 117 runs in the next 20 deliveries, with Razaullah’s sixes driving the momentum. The only blemish in that surge was the dismissal of Azan Awais (59), caught behind off Lawrence’s feather‑edged delivery. England’s pace quartet, which had struggled to make an impact throughout the series, showed signs of life after the lunch break.
Gus Atkinson delivered a potent eight‑over spell, claiming his second wicket of the series by dismissing Masood, again thanks to Lawrence’s sharp slip work. Babar Azam, poised for a maiden Test century after a four‑year drought, fell to a well‑executed short‑ball plan orchestrated by Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue. Despite repeated warnings, Babar attempted to play the short ball and was caught gloving behind, ending his innings at 76.
Tongue finished with figures of 2‑106, while Archer added 1‑120, taking Saud Shakeel’s wicket (29) shortly after tea with another short‑ball that was ballooned to short‑leg. Jordan Cox contributed two brilliant catches behind the stumps, dismissing debutants Ghazi Ghori (16) and Mohammad Imran (4) off Atkinson’s (3‑109) edges. Razaullah’s impact extended beyond his batting heroics. Earlier in the match, he had already taken four wickets in England’s first innings, including the prized scalp of Joe Root – the leading run‑scorer in Test cricket – with his very first over.
This dual contribution with both ball and bat cemented his status as the standout performer of the Test. Late in the day, drama continued when an lbw appeal against Lawrence was overturned on review, only for Razaullah to be dismissed on the very next ball, marking the end of the day’s play. In a post‑match interview with Sky Sports Cricket, the young all‑rounder reflected on his innings: "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 performance: "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 modest chase of 130 runs on day four, a target that appears achievable but will require composure after the psychological blow dealt by Razaullah’s onslaught. A successful chase would still secure a historic home series whitewash against Pakistan, while a collapse could see the series level at 1‑1, leaving both sides with much to ponder ahead of the final Test. Fans can watch the concluding day of the third Test live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Saturday, with streaming options available for those without a Sky subscription.