England will require 130 runs on the fourth day to seal victory in the third Test at Edgbaston after Pakistan staged an unexpected and spirited fightback on Friday. Led by a sensational counter-attack from 21-year-old debutant Razaullah, the tourists posted 449 in their second innings to erase a massive deficit and force the contest into the weekend.

Pakistan began the third day in a precarious position at 55 for two, still trailing by 268 runs after a dismal opening to the match. However, the top and middle order displayed a level of application and discipline that had been entirely absent during the earlier stages of the tour. Shan Masood and Azan Awais successfully pushed their partnership past the century mark before Awais fell for 59, caught down the leg side off the part-time spin of Dan Lawrence.

Masood continued to anchor the innings with an elegant knock, sharing a productive 89-run stand with captain Babar Azam. The left-handed batsman appeared well on course for a hundred, only to perish for 95 when Lawrence claimed a brilliant one-handed catch at gully from the bowling of Gus Atkinson. Babar contributed a fluent 76, though his resistance ultimately ended when England deployed a barrage of short-pitched deliveries either side of tea.

The dismissal of Babar sparked a minor collapse that left Pakistan eight wickets down and still trailing by a pair of runs with ample time remaining. What followed, however, was an astonishing exhibition of power hitting from number nine batsman Razaullah. Making his first appearance in international cricket, the young all-rounder tore into the England attack with absolute fearlessness.

Razaullah reached his half-century from just 43 deliveries and went on to smash nine maximums, matching the long-standing record for the most sixes hit in a single Test innings on English soil. He was ably supported by Muhammad Abbas, who contributed 42 runs in a rapid 121-run partnership for the eighth wicket that completely stunned the hosts. England's bowling attack appeared visibly rattled, struggling to find a breakthrough as the boundaries flowed freely into the buoyant Hollies Stand.

Lawrence eventually brought the remarkable onslaught to a close late in the evening by stumping Razaullah, bringing an end to a day that completely revitalized the fixture. Pakistan had earlier managed only 133 in their first innings, with Josh Tongue claiming four wickets, but their monumental second-innings effort ensures they will have a target to defend. England closed out the day facing a modest yet potentially tricky chase to complete the series sweep on Saturday.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.