England survive Pakistan scare to seal 3-0 Test series sweep

England completed a comfortable-looking run chase that briefly threatened to unravel when openers fell in the first over, but the home side steadied to secure an eight-wicket win at Edgbaston and a 3-0 series sweep. Chasing just 130, England lost two early wickets to Mohammad Abbas but regrouped around captain Joe Root and newcomer Jordan Cox.

Root got off to a nervy start but found rhythm, driving and cutting his way to a half-century before finishing unbeaten on 62 alongside Cox, who made 59 not out. Root survived two notable reprieves — a first-ball boundary off Razaullah and an overturned dismissal after he chopped onto his stumps when the bowler was ruled to have overstepped — and the pair saw England home in the 25th over.

Pakistan had provided late resistance in the match thanks to 21-year-old debutant Razaullah, who struck 81 off 63 balls, including nine sixes, and earlier claimed four wickets in England’s first innings. He put on 121 for the ninth wicket with Mohammad Abbas (42) to frustrate England on day three, but that recovery came too late to change the series outcome.

The series has exposed deeper problems for Pakistan, who have now lost 16 of their last 21 Tests and sit at the foot of the World Test Championship standings. The touring side made wholesale changes during the trip, sending seven players home after the second Test and bringing in replacements, and subsequently parted company with head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul. For England, the sweep offers a timely boost as they prepare for a Test tour of South Africa in December-January and a home Ashes series next year.