EDGBASTON: England beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday, sealing a 3-0 series sweep.
The home team, chasing just 130 to win, were in deep trouble when openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were dismissed in the opening over but Joe Root (62) and Jordan Cox (59) saw them home. Earlier, Razaullah smashed the fastest fifty by a Pakistan batter on Test debut as his late counter-attacking 81 helped Pakistan set England 130 to win on day three of the final Test at Edgbaston on Friday.
The 21-year-old reached his maiden Test half-century in just 43 balls, hitting a six to bring up the milestone, before falling shortly afterwards as Pakistan were bowled out for 449.
Razaullah’s aggressive innings came after Shan Masood and Babar Azam had led Pakistan’s fightback earlier in the day. Pakistan, seeking to avoid a 3-0 whitewash, resumed their response to England’s first-innings 453 with the tourists in trouble.
Masood and Azan Awais came together in the first over at 0-2 and rebuilt the innings with a 125-run partnership, Pakistan’s first century stand of the series. Awais made 59 before he was caught behind off Dan Lawrence after England captain Joe Root reviewed the original not-out decision. The Snickometer showed a faint spike as the ball passed the bat. Babar then joined Masood and the pair added another fifty-run partnership before Masood fell for 95.
Masood edged Gus Atkinson to gully, where Lawrence produced an outstanding one-handed catch. Masood waited for the third umpire to confirm the ball had not touched the ground before leaving to a standing ovation from the Edgbaston crowd. Babar, who had also been going strongly, made 76 before Josh Tongue dismissed him. A rising delivery struck Babar’s glove and looped through to wicketkeeper Jordan Cox.
Saud Shakeel was dismissed soon afterwards, leaving Pakistan’s lower order to extend the lead.
Razaullah then took centre stage, smashing a huge six over deep square leg to ensure England would have to bat again. He attacked Atkinson relentlessly, hitting three sixes in four balls as Pakistan’s bowlers frustrated England’s attack with the new ball.
Razaullah and Mohammad Abbas put on 121 for the eighth wicket, with Abbas contributing 42. Their partnership included several sixes in the final session and gave Pakistan a sizeable lead after England had appeared to be in control.
Tongue eventually ended the stand by dismissing Abbas, and Razaullah followed shortly afterwards, falling 19 runs short of what would have been a century on his Test debut. Pakistan were bowled out for 449, leaving England 130 to win the match and complete a 3-0 series whitewash.
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