England’s hopes of completing a clean‑sheet series victory over Pakistan were shattered in the final Test at Edgbaston, thanks to an electrifying cameo from 21‑year‑old debutant Razaullah. The young Pakistani all‑rounder turned the tide on Friday evening, unleashing a barrage of sixes that not only rescued his side from a precarious position but also ensured the series would not end in a whitewash for the hosts. The match had been slipping away from Pakistan for most of the day.
After a solid first‑innings effort, they found themselves 129 runs behind England’s massive total of 453. The visitors were reeling at 52 for 2 when the evening session began, and the early loss of their eighth wicket seemed to signal the end of any realistic chance of a comeback.
It was at this critical juncture that Razaullah stepped onto the crease and announced his arrival in the Test arena. In just 63 deliveries, the youngster smashed 81 runs, dispatching the ball over the boundary nine times. His on‑fire display matched the debut record set by Tim Southee, who also struck nine sixes in his first Test innings.
Razaullah’s aggressive stroke‑play was anchored by a 121‑run partnership with fellow bowler Mohammad Abbas, who contributed a quickfire 42 before being dismissed in the closing overs. The partnership not only steadied Pakistan’s innings but also shifted the momentum dramatically, turning a looming collapse into a fighting stand. Razaullah’s innings was a masterclass in power hitting and timing. He mixed textbook drives with unorthodox pulls, sending the ball soaring to all corners of the ground.
His sixes came in clusters, each one eroding England’s confidence and energising the Pakistani crowd. The climax of his on‑field heroics arrived when he was stumped off Dan Lawrence’s spin, ending both his innings and the day’s play. Yet the damage was already done – Pakistan had taken a 129‑run lead into the final day, a target that would prove far more demanding than England had initially anticipated. The first innings of the match set the stage for this dramatic reversal.
Pakistan were bowled out for 133 in just 33.5 overs, with Saud Shakeel (43) and Mohammad Abbas (21) providing the bulk of the runs. England’s bowlers—Josh Tongue (4‑42), Ollie Robinson (3‑15) and Jofra Archer (3‑25)—exploited the conditions expertly, keeping the Pakistani batting line‑up under pressure. In response, England amassed 453 runs, a total powered by a quartet of half‑centuries: Harry Brook (75), Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65) and Emilio Gay (60). Even the lower order contributed, with Ollie Robinson adding a quick 50.
Razaullah, who had taken four wickets in the first innings, including the prized scalp of England’s leading run‑scorer Joe Root, was already making his mark with the ball. The second innings saw Pakistan post a formidable 449, thanks to substantial contributions from Shan Masood (95), Babar Azam (76) and Azan Awais (59). Razaullah’s 81 was the highlight, but the innings also featured a series of missed opportunities for the Pakistani side.
Both Masood and Babar were on the brink of centuries, only to be dismissed in moments that sparked debate among analysts. Masood fell to a spectacular catch by Dan Lawrence in the slips—a one‑handed, diving effort that will be replayed for weeks. Babar’s wicket, on the other hand, was a textbook example of a captain’s miscalculation; he walked into a short‑ball trap set by England just as tea was about to be taken, ending what could have been a landmark hundred. After the fall of four wickets for 40 runs, the match appeared to be tilting back in England’s favour.
However, Razaullah’s aggressive counter‑attack changed the narrative. Starting the third morning at 52‑2, Pakistan added a modest 15 runs in the first 7.2 overs before Razaullah ignited a blitz of 117 runs in the next 20 deliveries.
The only blemish during this onslaught was the dismissal of Azan Awais (59), caught behind off Lawrence’s delivery. This surge not only erased the deficit but also gave Pakistan a lead that would force England to chase a target of 130 on the final day—a target that, while seemingly modest, carried the weight of a potential series‑leveling victory. England’s pace quartet, which had struggled to make inroads throughout the series, found a brief resurgence after the lunch interval on day three.
Gus Atkinson, in particular, delivered an eight‑over spell that yielded his second wicket of the series, dismissing Masood via a superb catch by Lawrence. Yet the real drama unfolded when Babar Azam, poised for his first Test hundred in almost four years, fell to a well‑executed short‑ball plan orchestrated by Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue.
Tongue eventually claimed Babar’s wicket (2‑106), while Archer added the wicket of Saud Shakeel (29) with a short‑ball that ballooned to short‑leg. Fielding brilliance also featured prominently.
Jordan Cox produced two stunning catches behind the stumps, dismissing debutants Ghazi Ghori (16) and Mohammad Imran (4). Atkinson’s persistence paid off as he claimed three wickets for 109 runs, exploiting both inside and outside edges with precision. Razaullah’s performance was a dual‑sided showcase: he had already impressed with the ball, taking four first‑innings wickets—including the prized scalp of Joe Root in his very first over—and then proceeded to dominate with the bat. His 81 runs, punctuated by nine sixes, not only gave Pakistan a commanding lead but also injected a palpable sense of excitement into the crowd.
The drama peaked when an LBW decision 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 post‑match comments to 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 significance of 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." The final day will see England chase a target of 130, a modest figure on paper but one that carries the weight of a potential series‑leveling triumph. The hosts will need to regroup after a disjointed final session and find a way to chase down the runs without losing further wickets.
For Pakistan, the focus will shift to defending the lead, relying on their bowlers to exploit any fatigue in the English batting line‑up. Fans can watch the concluding day of the third Test live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 am on Saturday. Those without a Sky subscription can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream the match without a contract on NOW.
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