Debutant Razaullah struck a sparkling maiden Test half-century as Pakistan produced a strong second-innings response to take a 129-run lead over England on the third day of the third Test at Edgbaston.
Playing his first Test, Razaullah followed his four-wicket haul in England’s first innings with an attacking 81 off just 63 balls, an innings featuring four fours and nine sixes. He reached his maiden fifty from only 43 balls with three fours and five sixes.
Pakistan, who had been dismissed for 133 in their first innings before England replied with 453, showed tremendous resilience with the bat second time around.
The visitors suffered an early setback when Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique were dismissed without scoring on day two. Azan Awais and Shan Masood then led the recovery with a century partnership for the third wicket.
Azan scored 59 off 84 balls, including 10 fours, while Shan narrowly missed out on a century after making 95 from 148 balls with 12 boundaries. Captain Babar Azam continued Pakistan’s fightback with an accomplished 76 off 103 balls, including 11 fours and a six.
Pakistan were 184 for three at lunch before continuing to build their advantage during the afternoon. Babar brought up his half-century from 76 balls, while Saud Shakeel contributed 29.
England fought back to reduce Pakistan to 318 for eight, but Razaullah and Mohammad Abbas changed the complexion of the innings with an outstanding ninth-wicket partnership.
Razaullah counter-attacked the hosts bowlers while Abbas provided valuable support at the other end. The pair took Pakistan beyond 400, adding more than 100 runs together and extending Pakistan’s lead.
Abbas scored an important 42 off 67 balls, including five fours and two sixes, before Razaullah was the last man dismissed for 81 as Pakistan were bowled out for 449 in 96.4 overs.
Earlier, the right-arm pacer had returned figures of four for 148 from 23 overs in England’s first innings, accounting for Emilio Gay, Joe Root, Jamie Smith and Ollie Robinson.
For England, Gus Atkinson took three wickets in Pakistan’s second innings, while Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue and Dan Lawrence picked up two wickets each.
Scores in brief:
Day 3 of 5
Pakistan 133 all out, 33.5 overs (Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21; Josh Tongue 4-42, Ollie Robinson 3-15, Jofra Archer 3-25) and Pakistan 449 all out, 96.4 overs (Shan Masood 95, Razaullah 81, Babar Azam 76, Azan Awais 59, Mohammad Abbas 42; Gus Atkinson 3-109, Ollie Robinson 2-54, Josh Tongue 2-106, Dan Lawrence 2-17)
England 453 all out, 89 overs (Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69, Dan Lawrence 65, Emilio Gay 60; Razaullah 4-148, Mohammad Ali 2-92, Mohammad Imran 2-47)
