England won the last game of the three-match Test series against Pakistan by eight wickets on Saturday at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The Three Lions defeated the visitors 3-0. The Joe Root-led team’s sixth-place standing in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table did not change following the third match.
However, their winning percentage increased to 38.54. Already near the bottom of the nine-team standings, Babar Azam and company’s victory percentage dropped to 14.81. England survived an early hiccup to defeat Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test at Edgbaston on Saturday, completing a 3-0 series sweep.
Root And Cox Take England Over The Line
When openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were removed in the first over by Mohammad Abbas, the home team was in serious difficulty because they were only chasing 130 to win. In a nervous start, England’s record run scorer, Joe Root, edged his first ball, delivered by Razaullah, through the slips for four. However, he immediately scored to ease the tension.
When the captain sliced against the stumps off Mohammad Ali, he was given a tremendous reprieve. However, the bowler was upset when the umpire signalled a no ball. When Root edged an Abbas delivery between first and second slip with Jordan Cox at the other end, neither fielder moved, giving Root another let-off. However, he hit a cut for four to achieve his half-century off 57 balls, and Cox soon matched him. With Root undefeated on 62 and Cox 59 not out, England achieved their goal in the 25th over.
Razaullah’s Fight Back Goes In Vain
Before rookie fast bowler Razaullah launched an ambitious attack with the bat, hitting nine sixes as he raced to 81 off 63 balls on Friday, Root’s team looked certain to win easily in three days. As England struggled, the 21-year-old number nine, who also claimed four wickets in the first innings, put on 121 for the ninth wicket alongside fellow paceman Abbas (42).
Pakistan has had a terrible series, losing the first Test by an innings and 103 runs and the second by 194 runs. Razaullah’s heroics have altered the mood of the music, but they came too little, too late. Following their devastating loss in the second Test at Lord’s, the tourists brought in seven replacements, including Razaullah, and sent seven players home.
As their trip descended into chaos, they also fired assistant Umar Gul and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed. Despite getting bowled for a pitiful 133 in their first innings, persevered despite making four changes to their team for the third Test. For , who were in turmoil just weeks ago after losing a series to New Zealand and losing captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, the 3-0 whitewash is a great boost. However, there are more difficult obstacles ahead, including a home Ashes next year and a Test series in South Africa between December and January.