A day after closing on 52 for 2 in reply to England's 453, Pakistan produced the most eventful day of the series at Edgbaston — batting deep into day three to post 449 all out, built on fifties from the top order and capped by a record-equalling debut innings from Razaullah that turned a respectable rearguard into a match-defining lead.
Shan Masood and Azan Awais extended their overnight stand into a 125-run partnership, with Awais falling for 59 before Masood was denied a century by a stunning one-handed catch at gully from Dan Lawrence off Gus Atkinson, dismissed for 95. Babar Azam added 76 further down the order, giving Pakistan a platform that looked solid but not yet decisive heading into the tail.
What turned a solid total into a match-changing one was Razaullah's innings from No. 9. The 21-year-old debutant put on a 121-run stand with Mohammad Abbas for the ninth wicket, striking nine sixes — including three off a single Gus Atkinson over — on his way to 81 off 63 balls. That equalled Tim Southee's long-standing record for the most sixes hit on Test debut, set against England in 2008, and is the highest six-count by a debutant in an away Test, surpassing West Indies' Kyle Mayers, who hit seven on debut against Bangladesh in 2021.
Pakistan's 449 gave them a lead of 129 runs once set against England's first-innings 453 and Pakistan's own first-innings 133, leaving England needing 130 to win with a full fourth day still to play. It's a target England start as clear favourites to chase down, but Razaullah's innings ensured Pakistan at least have a puncher's chance and a full day's worth of pressure to apply with the new ball.
With England already 2-0 up in the series, this Test carries no series-defining stakes — but Pakistan's day three fightback matters for reasons beyond the result. A touring side that has struggled for runs throughout the series, and whose new coaching staff took over only days before this Test, produced its most complete batting performance of the tour when it mattered least for the series outcome but most for morale heading into the home summer. Razaullah's innings, in particular, gives Pakistan's new coaching group a genuine selection headline to build around rather than another batting collapse to explain away.
Day four at Edgbaston is covered ball-by-ball on SportGod's live matches page, with more international cricket coverage on SportGod's blog and fantasy contests running in SportGod's free games.
Day three scores, the record six-count and the day four target are verified against same-day tour coverage, current as of September 12, 2026.
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