England secure first ever home series whitewash of Pakistan with eight-wicket victory in third Test at Edgbaston after Mohammad Abbas opened day four with wickets of Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay in first over; Joe Root – bowled off a no-ball – and Jordan Cox notch unbeaten fifties in win By David Currie at Edgbaston Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player England clinched a first ever home series whitewash of Pakistan after an early scare when chasing down 130 for the loss of eight wickets on day four of the third Test at Edgbaston. The thought of England losing the Test match would have been unthinkable when Ollie Robinson reduced the visitors to 0-2 on the second evening – Pakistan still trailing by 320 at the time – but it looked a genuine possibility when the hosts themselves lost two in their first over to start the fourth morning. Ben Duckett (0) signed off a miserable series by nicking off first ball to Mohammad Abbas (2-27), who added Emilio Gay (0) lbw to finish off a stunning opener. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player But any fears of England succumbing to a calamitous defeat were soon dispelled by their skipper, as Joe Root (62no) struck a fine fifty, sharing in an unbroken 128-run partnership with Jordan Cox (59no), who notched his third half-century late on, to secure victory in 24.2 overs.
Pakistan 133 all out in 33.5 overs in first innings (put in to bat): Saud Shakeel (43), Mohammad Abbas (21); Josh Tongue (4-42), Ollie Robinson (3-15), Jofra Archer (3-25) England 453 all out in 89 overs in first innings: Harry Brook (75), Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65), Emilio Gay (60), Ollie Robinson (50); Razaullah (4-148) Pakistan 449 all out in 96.4 overs in second innings: Shan Masood (95), Razaullah (81 off 63 balls), Babar Azam (76), Azan Awais (59); Gus Atkinson (3-109) England 130-2 in 24.2 overs in second innings (win by eight wickets): Joe Root (62no), Jordan Cox (59no); Mohammad Abbas (2-27) Pakistan, meanwhile, will be left wondering would could have been, had Mohammad Ali not overstepped when bowling Root for 23 – dragging onto his stumps off a no-ball – with England just 35-2 at the time. Cox’s knock will have aided his hopes of retaining a spot in England’s starting XI when the Test team are next in action for the three-match tour of South Africa, starting on December 17. Jacob Bethell – injured for the Pakistan series – is expected to return to the side, but could he or Cox open the batting instead of Gay? And were Gay to retain his place at the top of the order, Cox could yet fill in at wicketkeeper instead of Jamie Smith, who didn’t keep during Pakistan’s second innings due to an injured finger – though he has three months for that to sufficiently heal.
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