Pakistan scripted arguably their most impressive — and unarguably most entertaining — performance of the tour at Edgbaston, turning what looked like a routine innings defeat into a genuinely awkward final-day chase for England.

After being bowled out for just 133 in their first innings and conceding a massive lead, Pakistan battled for nearly 97 overs in their second innings before being dismissed for 449 — their highest score of the series. That left England needing 130 runs on the fourth day to complete a 3-0 clean sweep, a task that looked straightforward until the visitors' extraordinary lower-order resistance gave the Test one final twist.

A familiar collapse on day one

The context made the fightback all the more remarkable. Having lost the first two Tests at Leeds and Lord's, Pakistan made several changes to their squad but could not prevent another batting collapse on the opening day. Captain Joe Root won the toss and put Pakistan in, and Josh Tongue (4-42) alongside Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer (three wickets each) dismantled the visitors for 133 in 44.3 overs.

Saud Shakeel top-scored with 43, but the rest of the order again failed to spend time at the crease. It was the fifth time Pakistan had batted in the series, and on each occasion they had been bowled out for under 200. England, powered by fifties from Emilio Gay and Harry Brook, moved to 156-4 by stumps with a 23-run lead, later posting 453 — with Brook (75) and Jamie Smith (69) the main contributors.

Masood, Awais and Babar rebuild

Pakistan's recovery was built around patient, high-quality batting from the top order. Overnight batters Azan Awais and Shan Masood, who had already stitched together a half-century stand, made a cautious start against Archer's short-pitched barrage before both brought up their fifties either side of the drinks break.

The partnership ended abruptly when Awais, attempting to glance a Dan Lawrence delivery down leg, nicked through to the keeper. With the umpire ruling not out, Joe Root successfully overturned the decision with a swift review. Masood, though, kept the momentum going and found a fine ally in skipper Babar Azam, who had not managed a double-digit score all series.

The senior pair applied themselves superbly in an 89-run stand before Lawrence plucked a stunning one-handed catch at gully to end Masood's stay five short of a century. Babar looked well set for a ton of his own, but once England employed the short ball he was tested and eventually fell to a delivery down leg off Tongue for 76. Seven overs later Shakeel fell to the same ploy, gloving a short ball to short leg.

Razaullah's record-breaking counter-attack

The final session began with Pakistan trailing by only 23 runs with five wickets in hand, but England struck three times quickly — sending back Shakeel, Ghazi Ghori and Mohammad Imran Randhawa. With only two wickets left, Pakistan went on the counter-offensive, led by the enterprising Razaullah.

The 21-year-old debutant clubbed nine sixes — the most by a debutant in Test history — en route to an explosive 63-ball 81 before being stumped. The carnage began early when he smoked Gus Atkinson for three sixes in a single over. After a brief lull, he muscled Jofra Archer over long off for a maximum to bring up his half-century. He had earlier claimed 4-148 with the ball in England's first innings.

Mohammad Abbas provided invaluable support, and the pair added 121 runs for the ninth wicket to push Pakistan into a 119-run lead before Abbas fell to Tongue for 42. Razaullah added 10 more runs before becoming Lawrence's second victim of the innings, the final wicket to fall.

Day four at a glance

Pakistan's 449 means England return on the fourth morning needing only 130 runs, a target that still looks well within reach. But the visitors' extraordinary resistance has at least forced the hosts to bat again after their first-innings dominance, and Pakistan will hope their lower-order heroics give them enough momentum to create one final surprise.

The fightback came after Shakeel had admitted the batting unit was making the same mistakes. "It's depressing, we're making the same mistake as a batting unit," he said. "We're getting out in bunches and there were lots of soft dismissals today. We're trying, but yes it's frustrating that we keep making the same mistakes. I don't think it's a confidence issue. If you don't have the confidence to play at this level, then you don't deserve to play here. But in difficult conditions, poor form can be quite hard to break out of."

Defending his side's record, he added: "We're working hard, it's not like we aren't trying. There's a lot of lateral movement and we're not used to facing that, but we are trying our best. I'm not saying our batting group has not struggled, we have accepted that. But the conditions have been difficult."

Brief scores

Pakistan 133 (Saud Shakeel 43, Mohammad Abbas 21; Josh Tongue 4-42, Ollie Robinson 3-15) & 449 (Shan Masood 95, Razaullah 81, Babar Azam 76, Azan Awais 59; Gus Atkinson 3-109, Dan Lawrence 2-17) lead England 453 (Harry Brook 75, Jamie Smith 69; Razaullah 4-148) by 129 runs. England need 130 to win.