Razaullah's nine sixes on debut leave England chasing 130 at Edgbaston

A debutant's nine sixes turned a near-certain three-day defeat into a fourth-day chase as Pakistan, following on, set England 130 at Edgbaston

Razaullah, 21 years old and playing his first Test, struck 81 from 63 balls with nine sixes to carry Pakistan to 449 all out in their follow-on innings on the third day of the third Test, leaving England a target of 130.

England had won the toss and bowled, dismissed Pakistan for 133 all out in 33.5 overs and replied with 453 all out, a first-innings lead of 320. Asked to bat again, Pakistan resumed the third morning two wickets down and ended it 129 in front.

England lead the series 2-0 and need the runs on the fourth day to complete a 3-0 sweep.

Masood and Awais rebuild from two down

Pakistan had lost two wickets in the opening over of the follow-on innings on the second evening, Ollie Robinson removing Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique before rain cut the day short.

Shan Masood answered with 95 from 148 balls, 12 fours among them, and added 125 with Azan Awais, who made 59 from 84. It was Pakistan's first century stand of the series.

Masood fell five short of a hundred, caught at slip by Dan Lawrence off Gus Atkinson, and Awais was taken behind by Jordan Cox.

Babar Azam buys Pakistan time

Babar Azam made 76 from 103 balls with 11 fours and a six, an innings of occupation in a series in which Pakistan's senior batters have repeatedly failed to stay in. He too was caught by Cox behind the stumps.

Saud Shakeel contributed 29, but when the eighth wicket fell at 318 Pakistan were still 135 behind and an innings defeat remained the likeliest outcome.

A ninth-wicket stand of 121

Razaullah walked out at number nine and reached his fifty from 43 balls, the fastest half-century by a Pakistan debutant in Tests. Fifty-four of his 81 runs came in sixes, the rest from four fours and singles.

He and Mohammad Abbas, who made 42 from 67 balls with two sixes of his own, put on 121 for the ninth wicket to carry Pakistan past England's total.

The innings and the day ended together when Razaullah was stumped by Cox off Dan Lawrence, whose part-time spin returned 2-17. Mohammad Ali was left unbeaten on 4.

Nine sixes equal Southee's debut mark

Razaullah's nine sixes equalled the record for the most by a player on Test debut, a mark Tim Southee had held alone since 2008.

The fast bowler had already taken 4-148 in England's first innings, dismissing Emilio Gay, England captain Joe Root, Jamie Smith and Robinson.

"His innings was simply sensational," former Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz said on commentary. "A perfectly written first chapter of his Test career."

England left with 130 to chase

Atkinson finished with 3-109, Robinson with 2-54, Josh Tongue with 2-106 and Jofra Archer with 1-120 as England's attack was made to work through a full day for the first time in the match.

England did not bat again on the third evening. Pakistan had added 397 runs across the day, having begun it 268 behind.

"I wanted to take it as deep as possible. I wasn't scared of pace," Razaullah said afterwards. "There's nothing to be scared of when you're playing for your country. I was just enjoying myself."

He added that his method had been simple: "I thought if I played 50 balls, I'd get a positive result. And thankfully that happened."

Scorecard: England 453 all out (89 overs); Pakistan 133 all out (33.5 overs) and 449 all out (96.4 overs); England require 130 to win.

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