England secured a comprehensive home series whitewash against Pakistan, overcoming a nervous start to chase down a modest target of 130 on the fourth day of the third Test at Edgbaston. The prospect of England losing the match seemed almost unthinkable when Ollie Robinson skittled the visitors for just two wickets on the second evening, leaving Pakistan still 320 runs behind.
Yet the situation grew precarious when England themselves lost two wickets in the very first over of the fourth morning, prompting a brief flicker of doubt among the home crowd. The early drama continued as Ben Duckett, who had not contributed with the bat all series, was dismissed on the very first ball he faced, caught by Mohammad Abbas, who finished with figures of two for 27. Emilio Gay followed shortly after, trapped leg‑before‑wicket, completing a dramatic opening burst for Pakistan that threatened to shift momentum.
Any fears of a catastrophic defeat were swiftly allayed by England’s captain, Joe Root, who responded with a composed half‑century. Root’s 62 not out was forged in partnership with the young Jordan Cox, who contributed 59 not out. Their unbeaten stand of 128 runs steered England to the target in just 24.2 overs, sealing an eight‑wicket victory and confirming a 3‑0 series win. **First innings summary** - Pakistan: 133 all out in 33.5 overs.
Notable scores: Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21. England bowlers: Josh Tongue 4‑42, Ollie Robinson 3‑15, Jofra Archer 3‑25. - England: 453 all out in 89 overs. Key contributions: Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60, Ollie Robinson 50.
Pakistan bowler: Razaullah 4‑148. **Second innings summary** - Pakistan: 449 all out in 96.4 overs. Highlights: Shan Masood 95, debutant Razaullah 81 off 63 balls, Babar Azam 76, Azan Awais 59.
England bowler: Gus Atkinson 3‑109. - England chase: 130 for 2 in 24.2 overs.
Root 62* and Cox 59* guided the chase; Pakistan’s Mohammad Abbas claimed 2‑27. A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Mohammad Ali overstepped while attempting to bowl Root out for 23, delivering a no‑ball that allowed England to recover from 35 for 2. That reprieve proved crucial in maintaining the chase’s momentum.
Cox’s innings not only secured the win but also bolstered his case for a regular spot in England’s Test XI ahead of the upcoming three‑match tour of South Africa, which begins on 17 December. The team will also be looking at the return of Jacob Bethell, who missed the Pakistan series through injury.
Bethell could challenge Gay for a top‑order position, while Cox might be considered as a backup wicket‑keeper should Jamie Smith remain sidelined with a finger injury. Pakistan briefly entertained the notion of defending a sub‑130 total—a feat not achieved in England since the 1997 Ashes when England set Australia 124 and bowled them out for 104.
The last instance of a team defending a target of 130 or less in England dates back to 1993, when New Zealand were bowled out for 93 while chasing 127 at Hamilton. Despite a largely disappointing series, Pakistan showed resilience in the final Test, extending the contest to the fourth day and setting a target that momentarily unsettled the English side. The emergence of 21‑year‑old Razaullah was a bright spot; the debutant struck England’s captain Root with his fourth ball in Test cricket and went on to claim four wickets.
His explosive 81 off 63 balls in the third innings, featuring nine sixes, matched Tim Southee’s record for the most sixes by a debutant. England’s clean sweep of the series is a testament to the leadership of Joe Root, who stepped into the captaincy after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket earlier in the summer. Root reflected on the victory, saying, "The amount of uncertainty, noise and chaos at the start of the series was significant, but the way the group handled it, being so clinical, and now standing here with a 3‑0 win is really pleasing. We were clinical in the back end, a big partnership saw us home.
It’s exactly the sort of thing we want and puts us in a good place heading into winter. From 2‑2 to seeing two guys set at the end is a step forward.
Everyone contributing shows they’re capable at this level, which is encouraging. We'll face different challenges and surfaces in the winter, but we aim to keep progressing as a unit.
The fact we made 400-plus twice in these testing conditions is encouraging.". Former England opener Mark Butcher of Sky Sports praised the performance, noting, "They were made to sweat at times, which is healthy. It gave England pause for thought about differing conditions, especially with the upcoming South Africa tour where the ball may not move as much laterally.
There might be a slight concern about the lack of centuries, but overall there were many positives. They weren’t heavily challenged for most of the series, which made the final day particularly satisfying for England fans.".
Urooj Mumtaz, also of Sky Sports, offered a broader perspective on Pakistan cricket, stating, "Pakistan face major structural problems. They lost this series, drew in the West Indies, and were beaten at home by Bangladesh—results that don’t reflect a strong record. They have now lost 11 of the last 12 away Tests and 15 of their last 20 Test matches. Those figures, along with the size of England’s victories, are telling.
Pakistan maybe had one decent day in the series, but there are many ingredients that need consistent work for a brighter future.". Fans can continue to follow England’s summer programme, including the white‑ball series against Sri Lanka, which kicks off with the first T20 International on Tuesday.
Those without Sky Sports can explore the latest Sky Sports packages or stream the matches contract‑free via NOW.