Demoralised vacationers attain 52-2 earlier than rain ends play early on day two, needing 268 runs to make England bat once more.
Printed On 10 Sep 2026
Ollie Robinson continued his excellent summer season with two wickets in his opening over as England pushed Pakistan in direction of defeat within the third Take a look at at Edgbaston.
Robinson, man of the match within the first two Tests, struck with the primary ball of Pakistan’s second innings on Thursday and once more three deliveries later to go away England closing in on a 3-0 collection whitewash.
The demoralised vacationers reached 52-2 earlier than rain ended play early on day two, needing 268 runs to make England bat once more.
Robinson, 32, has been virtually unplayable on this collection, taking 21 wickets at a mean of beneath seven runs every.
He continued in the identical vein in Birmingham, eradicating Saim Ayub, who was dismissed for a duck in each innings, after which Abdullah Shafique to complete the day with figures of 2-10 from his six overs.
“He’s in all probability one of the crucial constant bowlers in world cricket. He is aware of what he’s doing with the ball, and he wears you down a bit so it’s a problem,” mentioned Pakistan batting coach Mike Smith.
“He has bowled exceptionally effectively, and he’s in a bit of purple patch as a participant. We have to discover a method to fight that in addition to we are able to.”
Shan Masood, who was dropped at slip by Ben Duckett off Gus Atkinson, was nonetheless there on 21 on the shut, alongside opener Azan Awais on 29, however Pakistan’s place seems hopeless.
England, who led by 23 in a single day, had earlier pressed the accelerator to increase their first-innings benefit to a frightening 320.
They made 453 with Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence extending their fifth-wicket partnership to 86 till Brook set off for an unimaginable single and was run out by Masood for 75 from 97 balls.
Lawrence went on to make 65 from 82 balls earlier than dragging a large ball onto his stumps to offer Mohammad Imran his first Take a look at wicket. It was a 3rd Take a look at half-century in a row for Lawrence, who was recalled after a two-year absence for this collection.
“I’m actually pleased with how I’ve contributed,” mentioned Lawrence. “I used to be feeling actually good at present, bought on a little bit of a roll with Brooky and went with it.
“I assumed I used to be going to make a extremely large rating, to be trustworthy. It wasn’t to be, however I feel if I’d been supplied 65 initially of the day, I’d have taken it.”
There was additionally a welcome half-century from the out-of-form Jamie Smith, who overcame an unsure begin and a finger damage, which induced him at hand over the wicketkeeping gloves to Jordan Cox, to strike 69 off 84 balls together with one six and 9 fours.
It was his highest Take a look at rating since a second-innings 88 towards India on the identical floor 14 months in the past.
Robinson chimed in with a 50 of his personal, which included an enormous six into the Hollies Stand off Mohammad Abbas, earlier than turning into Razaullah’s fourth sufferer.
The blooding of the 21-year-old, who had solely performed eight first-class video games previous to his call-up, was one of many few positives for Pakistan.
Whereas he was costly – he conceded 148 runs off his 23 overs – he posed a menace along with his tempo and aggression.
Razaullah could characterize a brighter future for Pakistan, however the current stays bleak for a crew that has misplaced 15 of its final 20 Exams.
