Sensational six-hitting by No. 9 batter Razaullah on debut capped an extraordinary Pakistan fightback against England in the Edgbaston cricket test on Friday.
Sensational six-hitting by No. 9 batter Razaullah on debut capped an extraordinary Pakistan fightback against England in the Edgbaston cricket test on Friday. The Pakistanis were expected to follow the previous two tests in the series and be cleaned up during day three of the third and last test by an England pace attack that has been rampant against the lackluster visitors. But Pakistan finally flexed its batting muscles to be dismissed for 449 in the last over of the day, snatch a lead of 129 runs and force a fourth day of action nobody predicted.
England needs 130 runs on Saturday to complete a first three-test whitewash since 2024 on the same ground against the West Indies.
Gutsy half-centuries by Shan Masood (95), captain Babar Azam (76) and opener Azan Awais (59) lifted Pakistan to the brink of wiping out a 320-run deficit on the first innings, then Razaullah and No. 10 batter Mohammad Abbas smashed past it in style in a thrilling late-day partnership.
Razaullah, who has a first-class century, hammered nine sixes, tied for the most in an innings in England with Ben Stokes in the 2023 Ashes at Lord’s.
Razaullah’s 43-ball fifty at Edgbaston is the fastest for Pakistan on Test debut. The previous fastest was by Faheem Ashraf off 52 balls vs Ireland in 2018.
His first six gave Pakistan the lead and he hit three sixes in an over off Gus Atkinson. His fifth six off Jofra Archer got him a 43-ball fifty. His next six off Archer earned Pakistan’s 400.
Abbas was out for a career-best 42, including two sixes and five boundaries, ending an entertaining partnership of 121 from 123 balls. It was the highest ninth-wicket stand against England since 1984.
Abbas walked off to a standing ovation and Razaullah received the same when he was stumped for 81 off 63 balls just moments before scheduled stumps.
England started the day expected to wrap up another innings win in quick time. There was good reason to believe that.
Pakistan was blown away in Leeds and Lord’s, didn’t once make a 200 total or bat 50 overs. The Pakistan Cricket Board pressed the panic button a week ago and yanked home seven players and sacked the head coach. With three debutants, Pakistan’s first innings scrounged 133 runs.
England replied with 453 on Thursday, a lead of 320 runs, and nobody thought England would need to bat again.