Debutant Razaullah’s Record Sixes Spark Stunning Pakistan Fightback Against England

Pakistan's Razaullah laughs after surviving an LBW decision on day three of the third Test match between England and Pakistan.

Debutant Razaullah launched a remarkable late salvo on Friday, helping Pakistan show much-needed fighting spirit and forcing England to wait for a clean sweep in their three-Test series.

The fast bowler arrived at the crease with the tourists facing the brink of defeat in the third Test at Edgbaston, but he proceeded to club nine sixes in an astonishing innings of 81 runs off just 63 balls.

Fellow paceman Mohammad Abbas joined the charge as the pair propelled the score from 318-8 to 439-9, leaving England seemingly powerless against the late onslaught on the third day.

As a result, both teams must return on Saturday, with the home side requiring 130 runs to secure a 3-0 series victory after previously dominating the matches.

Earlier in the match, Shan Masood contributed 95 runs while captain Babar Azam added 76, helping a heavily altered Pakistan side surpass the 200-run mark for the first time in the series at their sixth attempt.

Pakistan, confronting a first-innings deficit of 320, had lost two wickets without scoring on Thursday before opener Azan Awais and the experienced Masood advanced the score to 125.

Their partnership ended in Friday's morning session when Awais was caught down the leg side by stand-in wicketkeeper Jordan Cox off spinner Dan Lawrence for 59, bringing Azam to the crease.

Masood approached his eighth Test hundred before falling to a sensational slip catch by Dan Lawrence off Gus Atkinson's bowling.

Azam, returning from a hand injury that sidelined him in the first Test, batted fluently but edged a delivery from Josh Tongue into the gloves of Cox.

Saud Shakeel followed with 29 runs, caught by Emilio Gay at short leg while attempting to fend off a bouncer from Jofra Archer, while two additional catches by Cox accounted for Ghazi Ghori and Mohammad Imran.

However, Pakistan's innings was far from finished as Abbas joined Razaullah for an explosive evening partnership.

Debutant paceman Razaullah signaled his intent early by smashing three sixes off Atkinson within four balls, helping the pair register a fifty partnership in just 57 balls.

Inspired, Abbas—whose previous highest Test score was 29—hit Ollie Robinson for a maximum.

Razaullah reached an impressive half-century off 43 balls with his fifth six against Archer, repeating the shot immediately after to leave the bowler shaking his head.

Abbas was eventually caught by Atkinson off Tongue for 42, concluding a 121-run stand for the ninth wicket.

Having removed his helmet, Razaullah faced Lawrence and launched him into the stands to enter the 80s during the final over.

He survived an LBW review before being stumped by Cox off the next delivery for 81, departing amid applause from the spectators.

In total, he struck four fours and nine sixes, complementing the four wickets he claimed in England's first innings.

England had previously bowled Pakistan out for a meager 133 runs on the opening day before posting 453 at a brisk pace.

Joe Root's squad has dominated the series, winning the opening match by an innings and 103 runs, followed by a 194-run victory in the second.

Following their defeat in the second Test, Pakistan released seven players, dismissed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed alongside assistant Umar Gul, and made four changes to their lineup in Birmingham.