Razaullah 81 off 63 leaves England 130 to win - 'I just believed in myself'


Razaullah Khan's counter-attacking 81 off 63 balls on Day 3 of the third Test against England at Edgbaston turned an imminent innings defeat into a 129-run fourth-innings lead for Pakistan. Record-Equalling Assault: Batting at No. 9 with Pakistan still two runs behind England, the 21-year-old fast bowler smashed four boundaries and nine sixes. His nine maximums tied the record for the most sixes hit on Test debut (equalling Tim Southee in 2008) and tied the record for the most sixes in a Test innings in England (equalling Ben Stokes in 2023).   Fastest Debut Fifty: He reached his maiden half-century off just 43 balls, setting a record for the fastest Test debut fifty by a Pakistan player.   9th-Wicket Counterattack: Razaullah paired up with Mohammad Abbas (who scored a career-best 42) for a 121-run partnership off 123 balls, taking Pakistan from 318/8 to 439/9. All-Round Debut Performance: Prior to his batting display, Razaullah claimed 4 for 148 in England's first innings, including the wicket of Joe Root. "My favourite ball [to face] is the short ball. I just believed in myself. I thought if I played 50 balls, I'd get a positive result. And thankfully that happened." Pakistan (1st Innings): 133 all out | England (1st Innings): 453 all out | Pakistan (2nd Innings): 449 all out (96.4 overs)Target / Scenario: England require 130 runs on Day 4 to complete a 3–0 series sweep.