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England Overcome Early Scare to Seal 3-0 Sweep Against Pakistan
Confirmed
In Short: England overcame a nervy start to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston, securing a 3-0 series victory.
BIRMINGHAM, UK: England overcame a major wobble to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday, sealing a 3-0 series sweep. The home side was initially rattled by Pakistan's hitting, but England's resilience and a strong partnership between Joe Root and Sam Cox saw them through to victory.
Joe Root, England’s record runscorer, edged his first ball, bowled by Razaullah, through the slips for four in a nervy start but settled and scored quickly to take the sting out of the situation. The 21-year-old number nine, who also took four wickets in England’s first innings, put on 121 for the ninth wicket with fellow paceman Abbas (42) as England floundered.
From then on, the visitors finally found some fight and England were asked to respond. Two wickets in the first over - Abbas' metronomic accuracy not only sent nerves through the England dressing room, but also further exposed a growing issue at the top of the order. The home side was already facing an unexpected chase of 130 on the fourth day after being frazzled by the hitting of Pakistan debutant Razaullah on Friday evening.
England reached their target in the 25th over, with Root unbeaten on 62 and Cox 59 not out. The top order finally found a way to cope with the England attack and Razaullah's pyrotechnics will live long in the memory. For Root, this completes a successful return to the captaincy he resumed when Ben Stokes retired in June, while England end one of their most turbulent summers in history in a positive fashion.
England's performance, however, raises questions about their top order. For all the good things they have done against Pakistan, there was the feeling their credentials had not been challenged by the dismal performances of the tourists. Root admitted his team were not the finished article but said he was delighted with their series win. 'It sets us up nicely looking ahead to the start of a new era with (new head coach) Stephen Fleming coming in,' he said.
Background
Arab News is an English-language daily newspaper published in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The paper is published in a broadsheet format.
What's confirmed
- Joe Root, England’s record runscorer, edged his first ball, bowled by Razaullah, through the slips for four in a nervy start but settled and scored quickly to take the sting out of the situation.
- BIRMINGHAM, UK: England overcame a major wobble to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday, sealing a 3-0 series sweep.
- England reached their target in the 25th over, with Root unbeaten on 62 and Cox 59 not out.
What's still developing
- Razaullah’s heroics have changed the mood music but they came too little, too late for Pakistan, who have endured a miserable series, losing the first Test by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs.
- And the prospect of one of Test cricket's greatest turnarounds was raised when England were reduced to 2-2 in the opening over.
- England could have been 35-3 after Joe Root rashly dragged on to his own stumps off Mohammad Ali.
- England-Pakistan player ratings Root's lucky escape - no-ball saves England captain Such was England's serene progress up to the third evening of the final Test of the series, it was easy to forget that they were without both a captain and a coach less than two months ago.
- England chasing the rainbow with more questions than answers England in better place than start of summer - Root Who has given selectors food for thought?
- Cox and Root shared an unbroken stand of 128, Root unbeaten on 62 when victory was sealed just before lunch.