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England Survive Pakistan Scare to Seal 3-0 Test Series Sweep
Confirmed
In Short: England overcame a major wobble to beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston, sealing a 3-0 series sweep.
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 reduced to 2-2 in the opening over, but England's resilience and Joe Root's unbeaten 62 helped them reach their target in the 25th over.
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. Despite Razaullah’s heroics, 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.
England’s record runscorer, Joe Root, admitted his team were not the finished article but said he was delighted with their series win. “The amount of uncertainty, noise and I guess chaos there was coming into the series, the way the guys have dealt with that – being so clinical with what we’ve had in front of us – and be stood here with a 3-0 win is really pleasing,” Root told Sky Sports.
England could have been 35-3 after Joe Root rashly dragged on to his own stumps off Mohammad Ali, but they eventually reached their target of 130 on the fourth day. 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.
England will switch formats to begin a white-ball series against Sri Lanka in Southampton on Tuesday, with Brendon McCullum back in charge and Kevin Pietersen as part of the coaching staff. The home side were already facing an unexpected chase of 130 on the fourth day after being frazzled by the hitting of Pakistan debutant Razaullah on Friday evening.
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
- From then on, the visitors finally found some fight and England were asked to respond.
- Two wickets in the first over - Abbas gives Pakistan perfect start One area of concern for Fleming will be England's openers, albeit if the modest returns of Duckett and Gay have come in a summer when ball has been on top of bat.
- In a dramatic start to the day, 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 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-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.
- “It sets us up nicely looking ahead to the start of a new era with (new head coach) Stephen Fleming coming in.” It is England’s first Test series win since 2024, while Pakistan have now lost 16 of their last 21 games and are bottom of the World Test Championship table.
- The tourists sent seven players home after their crushing defeat in the second Test at Lord’s and brought in seven replacements, with Razaullah among them.