Pakistan debutant Razaullah's blitz leaves England chasing 130 to win third Test
Pakistan debutant Razaullah smashed 81 off 63 balls on day three at Edgbaston, dragging Pakistan to 449 and leaving England needing 130 runs to complete a series sweep.
England require 130 runs to win the third Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston after debutant Razaullah staged a stunning late fightback on day three.
Pakistan were 318-8, still two runs behind, when the 21-year-old number nine launched into an aggressive assault, striking 81 off 63 balls including nine sixes to equal Ben Stokes' record for most sixes in a Test innings in England. His innings powered Pakistan to a total of 449.
Razaullah added 121 for the eighth wicket alongside Muhammad Abbas, who struck two sixes of his own during a knock of 42, before Razaullah was stumped off Dan Lawrence to close out the day's play and set up England's run chase for Saturday.
England had been denied an earlier finish by bad weather on Thursday. On Friday, Pakistan's top order showed resilience, with Shan Masood and Azan Awais putting on 125 for the third wicket before Awais fell for 59. Masood added a further 89 with captain Babar Azam but missed out on a century, dismissed for 95 via a spectacular one-handed catch by Lawrence. Babar made 76 before being bowled by a Josh Tongue bouncer.
With four wickets falling for just 40 runs, a three-day finish looked likely until Razaullah and Abbas turned the match on its head, hitting sixes off both Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson. Abbas was eventually out to Tongue, and Razaullah was stumped shortly after equalling the six-hitting record.
England's bowlers were largely accurate for most of the day but struggled to contain the late assault, losing control of their fields and lines. Despite the setback, England remain on course for a possible 3-0 series sweep.
