Sports Desk
LONDON: Pakistan set a 130-run target for England after Razzaullah’s blistering 81, and a 42-run knock from Mohammad Abbas helped the visitors reach 449 all out in the third Test at Edgbaston on Friday.
The Green Shirts, who were blown away for just 133 in the first innings and needed 320 runs to avoid an innings defeat, piled up 449 all out in their second innings, which lasted 96.4 overs.
In the eventful final session of the day, the visitors added 152 more to their second innings’ total, courtesy of a sensational century-plus partnership for the ninth wicket between Razaullah and Abbas.
Pakistan resumed after tea at 297-5 but suffered three quick setbacks, losing Saud Shakeel (35), Gha-zi Ghauri (16) and Mohammad Imran (4) to slip to 318-8.
With Pakistan in trouble, Razzaullah and Mohammad Abbas launched a counterattack, adding 121 runs for the ninth wicket. Razzaullah smashed the England bowlers all over the park, striking nine sixes and four fours in a breathtaking 81 off just 63 balls. Abbas also played a crucial hand, scoring 42 off 67 deliveries, before he was dismissed with Pakistan on 439-9.
Razzaullah was the final wicket to fall soon after, stumped off Dan Lawrence, but his explosive in-nings had already ensured Pakistan secured a valuable 129-run lead over England.
Earlier, the second session of the pulsating day remained evenly poised as Pakistan added 113 runs to their total, while England made two scalps.
Masood and skipper Babar resumed the proceedings for the touring side and stretched their fourth-wicket partnership to 89 runs before the former fell victim to Gus Atkinson, agonisingly short of a well-deserved century.
The experienced southpaw walked back after scoring 95 off 148 deliveries with the help of 12 boundaries.
Babar was then involved in another crucial partnership for Pakistan when he put together 64 runs for the fifth-wicket partnership with Saud, during which he also brought up his 34th Test half-century.
The Pakistan captain looked on course to end his century drought in the longest format until Josh Tongue got him caught behind. He made 76 off just 103 deliveries, comprising 11 fours and a six.
Following the departure of both set batters, Saud and Ghazi batted cautiously and had raised 19 runs for the sixth wicket before the on-field umpires knocked the bails off to call for Tea.
Resuming the day on 52-2 after recovering from 0-2 late on the second day, Awais and Shan contin-ued their resistance, batting fluently to bring up their respective fifties and add 125 runs for the third wicket.
Dan Lawrence eventually ended the stand by dismissing Awais for 59.
