Media365
The tourists, looking to avoid a clean sweep, produced a strong response after England made 453 in their first innings. Razaullah provided the late fireworks with a brilliant 81 on his Test debut at No. 9.
Earlier, Shan Masood and Babar Azam led Pakistan’s fightback after the visitors suffered a disastrous start.
Masood made a defiant 95, falling just five runs short of what would have been his first century of the tour. He and Azan Awais came together in the first over with Pakistan 0-2 down and rebuilt the innings with a 125-run partnership.
It was Pakistan’s first century partnership of the series.
Masood, Babar keep Pakistan alive
Awais was eventually dismissed for 59 after being caught behind off Dan Lawrence. England captain Joe Root reviewed the original not-out decision, with the Snickometer showing a faint spike as the ball passed the bat.
Babar then joined Masood and the pair added another important partnership, bringing up a 50-run stand.
But Masood’s resistance ended when Gus Atkinson found his edge. The ball flew towards gully, where Lawrence produced an excellent one-handed diving catch.
Masood initially stayed at the crease in disbelief, but the third umpire confirmed that Lawrence had taken the catch cleanly. The 36-year-old then walked back to a standing ovation from the Edgbaston crowd.
Babar also looked set for a big score before falling for 76. He struggled against England’s short-ball attack and was dismissed when a rising delivery from Josh Tongue hit his glove before being taken by wicketkeeper Jordan Cox.
Saud Shakeel, Pakistan’s last recognised batter, was dismissed soon after.
Razaullah lights up Edgbaston
Just when England looked ready to finish the innings, Pakistan’s lower order turned the game into a late-day spectacle.
Razaullah smashed a huge six over deep square leg to ensure England would have to bat again. The 21-year-old then went after Atkinson, hitting three sixes in four balls.
Razaullah and Mohammad Abbas put on 121 for the ninth wicket, frustrating England’s bowlers in the final session. The pair hit several sixes as the new ball failed to produce quick wickets.
Razaullah reached his maiden Test fifty on debut with a six, getting to the landmark in just 43 balls. It was the fastest fifty by a Pakistan batter on Test debut.
England finally break the partnership
Tongue eventually ended the crucial 121-run partnership by dismissing Abbas for 42.
Razaullah followed shortly afterwards for 81, missing out on a memorable century on his Test debut.
His aggressive innings, however, had already helped Pakistan stretch their lead to 129 and force England to bat again in the final Test.
