Razaullah's 81 Gives England a Scare as Pakistan Set 130 at Edgbaston
Razaullah's stunning 81 and valuable contributions from Babar Azam and Shan Masood gave Pakistan a fighting chance against England at Edgbaston.
Pakistan gave England an unexpected scare at Edgbaston after a remarkable lower-order fightback set the hosts 130 runs to win the third Test and complete a 3-0 series sweep. The visitors, who had been struggling throughout the series, produced their best batting effort of the tour by reaching 449 in their second innings.
The standout performance came from 21-year-old debutant Razaullah, who smashed 81 while batting at No. 9. He reached his half-century from just 43 balls and hit nine sixes, matching Ben Stokes' record for the most sixes in a Test innings in England. His tally also equalled Tim Southee's record for most sixes by a Test debutant.
Razaullah changed the game after Pakistan slipped to 318-8, putting on a crucial 121-run partnership with Muhammad Abbas, who scored 42. Earlier, Shan Masood and Babar Azam had provided the foundation, scoring 95 and 76 respectively. Masood missed a century after being caught spectacularly at gully, while Babar fell to a short-ball attack.
England appeared close to wrapping up the innings after a brief collapse, but Razaullah's aggressive strokeplay unsettled the bowling attack. His late assault ensured the match would continue into Saturday and gave England a more challenging target than expected.
The hosts remain favourites to win, but Pakistan's fightback has turned what looked like a routine finish into an intriguing final day.
