Razaullah batting heroics give Pakistan a sniff in third Test against England

The tourists came into the third day in Birmingham with their backs firmly against the wall on 52-2, still trailing by 268 runs, but the batters put up some resistance as overnight opener Azan Awais scored 59.

Shan Masood and Babar Azam then added a partnership 89 for the fourth wicket, with the visiting captain getting to 76 when he was undone by a short ball from paceman Josh Tongue.

Saud Shakeel scored a bright and breezy 29 as Massod went into the 90s but the left-handed fell agonisingly short of a century as he was dismissed by Gus Atkinson for 95.

Pakistan then continued to lose wickets and looked dead and buried at 318-8 but Razaullah was joined by number 10 Mohammad Abbas and pair added an entertaining 121-run partnership in just 123 balls for the ninth wicket.

Razaullah was main contributor as his 81 came from jusy 63 deliveries while Abbas was dismissed for a career-best 42 as Pakistan astonishingly went into the lead and then added a lot more.

Abbas was eventaully out caiught at point off Tongue while Razaullah was the final batter dismissed when spinner Dan Lawrence had the 21-year-old stumped as Pakistan were bowled out for 449.

England should still complete a series clean-sweep as the pitch is still good to bat, but Pakistan will walk away from Test knowing they have a powerful hitter at the bottom.

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