Birmingham, September 12, 2026: England overcame an early batting collapse to defeat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday, completing a 3-0 series sweep.
Chasing 130 for victory, England were rocked in the opening over when Mohammad Abbas dismissed openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay to leave the hosts in immediate trouble.
Joe Root then steadied the innings despite a nervous start. The former England captain edged his first delivery from Razaullah through the slips for four before settling into his innings alongside Jordan Cox.
Root was handed a major reprieve when he chopped a delivery from Mohammad Ali onto his stumps, only for the bowler to be called for a no-ball. He survived another chance when he edged Abbas between first and second slip, with neither fielder able to reach the ball.
The veteran batter completed his half-century from 57 balls with a cut for four, while Cox soon joined him in reaching fifty.
England completed the chase in the 25th over, with Root unbeaten on 62 and Cox not out on 59.
The victory looked much more straightforward on Friday before Pakistan debutant Razaullah produced a remarkable counterattack with the bat. The 21-year-old number nine smashed nine sixes in an unbeaten-looking assault that brought him 81 from 63 balls.
Razaullah, who had also taken four wickets in England’s first innings, shared a 121-run ninth-wicket partnership with Abbas, who scored 42, as England were forced to work much harder than expected.
“Fair play to Pakistan, they threw some punches last night,” Root told the BBC, saying the experience would benefit England ahead of tougher challenges.
Pakistan’s fightback, however, came too late to prevent a third consecutive defeat. They lost the opening Test by an innings and 103 runs before suffering a 194-run defeat in the second match at Lord’s.
The tour had descended into turmoil after Pakistan sent seven players home following the Lord’s defeat and brought in seven replacements, including Razaullah. Head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul were also removed.
Pakistan made four changes for the third Test and showed greater resistance despite being bowled out for just 133 in their first innings.
Captain Babar Azam said the first innings had ultimately cost his side the match.
“We had a couple of good moments. I think we have bowled well but I think the first innings cost us. Too many soft dismissals,” he said.
Babar added that the series had provided valuable experience to the younger players against a quality opponent and bowling attack.
Razaullah’s impressive performance offered Pakistan some encouragement ahead of their next assignment against Sri Lanka in October.
For England, the clean sweep provides a major boost after a difficult period that included a series defeat by New Zealand and the departures of head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
England will next face tougher tests, with a Test series in South Africa scheduled for December and January before the Ashes at home next year.
