England completed a 3-0 clean sweep over Pakistan after securing an eight-wicket victory in the third Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Saturday. The result capped a remarkable turnaround for the home side and left Pakistan at the bottom of the World Test Championship points table.
Chasing a modest target of 130, England were given an early scare when Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were dismissed in the opening over by Mohammad Abbas. Joe Root also survived a nervous start, edging his first delivery from Razaullah through the slips for four.
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Root, however, quickly settled into the chase and began scoring freely. The England batter was handed another reprieve when he chopped a delivery from Mohammad Ali onto the stumps, only for the umpire to call a no-ball. He later survived another opportunity when an edge off Abbas flew between the first and second slips.
The scares did little to derail England. Root reached his half-century from 57 balls with a cut for four, while Jordan Cox soon joined him in completing his own fifty. England eventually reached the target in the 25th over, with Root unbeaten on 62 and Cox not out on 59.
The victory completed a dominant series for England, who had already won the opening Test by an innings and 103 runs before recording a 194-run victory in the second match at Lord’s.
Pakistan did find a bright spot in the final Test through debutant fast bowler Razaullah. The 21-year-old produced an extraordinary counter-attacking innings on Friday, smashing nine sixes on his way to 81 from just 63 deliveries.
Razaullah had earlier taken four wickets in England’s first innings and then combined with Mohammad Abbas for a 121-run ninth-wicket partnership. Abbas contributed 42 as Pakistan, who had appeared on course for defeat inside three days, managed to extend the contest.
Razaullah’s performance provided some encouragement for Pakistan amid a chaotic tour. Following their heavy defeat in the second Test, Pakistan sent seven players home and brought in seven replacements, with Razaullah among the new arrivals. The team also parted ways with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul.
Pakistan made four changes for the third Test but were still dismissed for just 133 in their first innings. Their second innings showed greater resistance, but the total of 130 proved insufficient to put England under sustained pressure.
For England, the clean sweep offers a major boost after a difficult period. The team had recently lost a Test series to New Zealand, while head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes had also departed.
England will now turn their attention to tougher assignments, including a Test series in South Africa in December and January. They will also prepare for a home Ashes campaign next year, with the 3-0 victory over Pakistan providing renewed confidence ahead of those challenges.
