ENG vs PAK: Root's England complete 3-0 series sweep with 8-wicket drubbing of Pakistan in 3rd Test

England crushed Pakistan by eight wickets in the third Test in Birmingham to seal the 3-0 series sweep. It's England first series sweep in Tests in more than two years. England rode on Joe Root's 62 and Jordan Cox's 59 to complete the 130-run chase in 24.2 overs on Day 4.

England crush Pakistan to complete 3-0 Test series whitewash

Though the home side seized control early on, Pakistan mounted a tense comeback with a fighting 449 in their second turn at bat. England refused to rattle during the run chase, steadily regrouping after losing a pair of quick top-order wickets. Joe Root and Jordan Cox then took charge, anchoring an unbroken stand that easily covered the remaining target and dashed any lingering hopes Pakistan had of salvaging a win from a tough series.

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The contest unfolded dramatically following a mismatched first half. Pakistan managed just 133 runs in their opening effort as Josh Tongue ripped through the lineup with four wickets, heavily backed by three-wicket spells from Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer. In response, England piled on 453—driven by Harry Brook’s 75 alongside crucial contributions from Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith, Emilio Gay, and Robinson—to establish a mammoth 320-run cushion.

Razaullah's heroic act goes in vain

Refusing to fold, the visitors turned the game on its head during their second attempt. Key knocks from Shan Masood (95), Babar Azam (76), and Azan Awais (59) laid the groundwork, but the real spectacle came lower down the order. 21-year-old debutant Razaullah launched a astonishing lower-order assault at No. 9, bludgeoning 81 off just 63 balls with nine towering sixes. He joined forces with Mohammad Abbas (42) for a game-changing 121-run ninth-wicket stand, pushing Pakistan’s total to 449 and forcing the hosts to earn the victory on day four.

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The final chase started in disaster for England, as both Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay were removed for ducks. Stepping into the crisis, Joe Root and Jordan Cox completely turned the tide. Root’s composed 62 not out brought calm to the dressing room, while Cox complemented him brilliantly with an unbeaten 59.

Pakistan’s last realistic opening slipped away when Mohammad Ali managed to draw an error from Root, only for the delivery to be ruled a no-ball. The reprieve proved fatal for the visitors’ hopes, allowing the pair to seal the win uninterrupted.