Razaullah, Abbas rescue Pakistan to set England 130-run target in third Test

But an extraordinary 131-run partnership between Razaullah and Abbas transformed the visitors’ fortunes and gave them renewed hope of forcing England into a difficult fourth-innings chase.Needing 320 runs to avoid an innings defeat, Pakistan eventually reached 449 all out in 96.4 overs, leaving England 130 runs to win.

Razaullah was the star of Pakistan’s dramatic lower-order resistance, smashing an entertaining 81 from only 63 balls.

His innings featured four boundaries and nine sixes, while Abbas contributed a career-best 42 from 67 balls, including five fours and two sixes.The pair attacked England’s bowlers with remarkable confidence, adding 121 runs before Josh Tongue finally ended the partnership by removing Abbas.

Razaullah then added 10 with Mohammad Ali before being stumped off Dan Lawrence, walking back to a standing ovation after an outstanding debut contribution.Earlier, Pakistan’s revival had been built around several important partnerships.

Azan and Shan Masood resumed at 52 for two and extended their overnight stand to 125.

Both reached half-centuries before Dan Lawrence dismissed Azan for a fluent 59 off 84 balls, containing 10 fours.

Masood then combined with captain Babar Azam for another substantial partnership.

The left-hander narrowly missed a century, falling for 95 off 148 deliveries after striking 12 boundaries.Babar continued the fight alongside Saud Shakeel, adding 64 for the fifth wicket and bringing up his 34th Test century.

His innings ended at 76 from 103 balls, including 11 fours and a six, when Tongue had him caught behind.

Saud and Ghazi Ghouri added 19 before the latter was dismissed after Tea, while Pakistan subsequently lost further wickets to Atkinson and Archer.Gus Atkinson was England’s most successful bowler, finishing with three wickets for 109 runs, while Ollie Robinson, Tongue and Lawrence claimed two wickets each.

Pakistan’s remarkable recovery has at least given the visitors a chance of salvaging the Test, although England require only 130 runs and will begin the fourth day as firm favourites.PAKISTAN 133 and 449 (Masood 95, Razaullah 81, Babar 76, Azan 59, Abbas 42; Atkinson 3-109, Robinson 2-54, Tongue 2-106, Lawrence 2-17) trail ENGLAND 453 by 129 runs.

BIRMINGHAM – Debutant Razaullah and Mohammad Abbas produced a remarkable ninth-wicket rescue act as Pakistan fought back from another collapse to set England a challenging 130-run target on the third day of the third Test at Edgbaston on Friday.