England vs Pakistan 3rd Test Day 3: Pakistan Fight Back After England’s 320-Run Lead

England vs Pakistan 3rd Test Day 3: Match Situation

Pakistan began Day 3 at 52/2, still 268 runs behind England after the hosts built a 320-run first-innings lead at Edgbaston.

Day 3 started with Pakistan facing a major deficit after being bowled out for 133 in the first innings. England responded with 453, putting themselves in a strong position before rain brought the second day’s play to an early close.

Shan Masood and Azan Awais provided Pakistan with the stability they needed. The pair built Pakistan’s first century partnership of the series, giving the visitors some momentum after losing Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique in the opening over of their second innings.

Despite that resistance, England remained firmly in control. Pakistan still had to overcome a substantial deficit, while England’s bowling attack continued to pose the biggest threat to the visitors’ hopes of extending the Test.

Pakistan Fight Back After Early Setback

Pakistan showed greater resistance on Day 3 after losing two early wickets in their second innings at Edgbaston.

Pakistan began the day at 52/2 and still needed to overcome a substantial 268-run deficit. Rather than allowing England to dictate the contest immediately, Shan Masood and Azan Awais settled in and gave the visitors a much-needed period of stability.

The partnership became an important response to Pakistan’s difficult start to the Test. Both batters focused on occupying the crease and rotating the strike, gradually reducing England’s immediate chances of forcing another collapse.

England remained in a commanding position because of their 320-run first-innings lead, but Pakistan’s resistance changed the tone of the opening part of Day 3. The visitors’ priority was clear: bat for as long as possible and make England work for the remaining wickets.

Shan Masood and Azan Awais Build Resistance

Shan Masood and Azan Awais produced Pakistan’s most encouraging partnership of the match as they looked to rebuild the second innings.

The pair showed patience against England’s pace attack and avoided the kind of early collapse that had put Pakistan under pressure in the first innings. Their approach was built around leaving well, defending the good deliveries and taking scoring opportunities when they appeared.

For Masood, the partnership was particularly important after Pakistan’s top order had struggled throughout the Test. Awais also provided valuable support at the other end, allowing Pakistan to spend a longer period at the crease without exposing the lower order.

England still had the advantage of a sizeable first-innings lead, but the partnership forced the hosts to remain patient. Pakistan’s ability to extend this resistance would be crucial to their chances of making England bat again.

England Maintain Bowling Pressure

Pakistan’s resistance made England work harder, but the hosts continued to create pressure with a disciplined pace attack.

Ollie Robinson remained England’s biggest threat after his two early wickets had reduced Pakistan to 0/2 at the start of the second innings. His control was especially important as Pakistan’s batters began settling into their partnership.

Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson also kept probing the batters with pace and movement. England were unable to produce another immediate breakthrough during the morning resistance, but their attack continued to test Pakistan’s patience rather than allowing easy scoring opportunities.

Robinson’s figures were particularly impressive, with the seamer maintaining a highly economical spell while continuing his outstanding series. England’s bowling unit therefore remained well placed to attack again if Pakistan’s partnership was broken.

The challenge for England was to stay patient. Pakistan had already shown that disciplined batting could blunt the attack for a period, but the hosts still had a sizeable 320-run first-innings advantage to fall back on.

How England Built a 320-Run Lead

England’s first-innings total of 453 put the hosts in a dominant position after Pakistan were dismissed for 133.

England did not have everything their own way after Pakistan’s early collapse. The hosts slipped to 39/3 in their reply before Harry Brook and Emilio Gay steadied the innings with a crucial partnership.

Brook eventually made 75, while Dan Lawrence added 65 and Jamie Smith scored 69. Ollie Robinson also contributed a valuable 50, allowing England to build a substantial total despite Pakistan’s attempts to fight back with the ball.

Razaullah was Pakistan’s most successful bowler in England’s innings, finishing with four wickets. His effort, however, could not prevent England from reaching 453 and establishing a 320-run advantage.

Pakistan’s Second Innings: Key Developments

Pakistan entered their second innings under heavy pressure, but the visitors found greater stability after losing two early wickets.

Pakistan were reduced to 0/2 after Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique fell at the start of the innings. That left the visitors facing the possibility of another rapid collapse after England had already established a 320-run first-innings lead.

Shan Masood and Azan Awais then changed the momentum with a determined partnership. Their ability to stay at the crease gave Pakistan a platform from which to reduce the deficit and prevented England from immediately closing in on victory.

The situation remained difficult for Pakistan because they needed to score at least 268 more runs from their position at the start of Day 3 just to make England bat again. Their priority was therefore survival first, followed by building a total that could put some pressure back on the hosts.

England continued to attack with their seamers, knowing that another breakthrough could expose Pakistan’s middle and lower order. For Pakistan, extending the partnership and preserving wickets remained the key objective.

Ollie Robinson’s Impact on the Test

Ollie Robinson has been one of England’s most influential bowlers throughout the Test series and again made an early impact at Edgbaston.

Robinson struck twice in Pakistan’s second innings, giving England the perfect start after their 453-run first-innings total. His control with the new ball made it difficult for Pakistan’s top order to settle.

His performance has also been a major feature of the wider series. Robinson entered Day 3 with 21 wickets in the series at an average of under seven, underlining how consistently he has troubled Pakistan’s batters.

England will need that same discipline as the Test progresses. Pakistan’s resistance through Shan Masood and Azan Awais showed that the visitors can absorb pressure when their batters spend enough time at the crease.

England’s Push for a 3-0 Series Sweep

England entered the third Test with an unassailable 2-0 series lead and now have a strong opportunity to complete a clean sweep at Edgbaston.

England had already won the first two Tests before the series moved to Birmingham, meaning Pakistan needed a major turnaround to prevent a 3-0 result. Their first-innings total of 133 made that task even harder.

England’s response of 453 created a 320-run advantage and put the hosts firmly in control of the match. Pakistan’s second-innings resistance has delayed England’s victory push, but the visitors still have a substantial deficit to overcome.

For England, the immediate objective is to finish the job with the ball. Taking Pakistan’s remaining wickets and forcing a result would complete a dominant series performance and give the hosts a clean sweep.

Pakistan’s priority is different: extend their second-innings resistance, erase the deficit and force England to bat again. Every additional partnership therefore becomes increasingly important to their hopes of keeping the Test alive.

Day 3 Turning Points and Key Battles

Pakistan’s century partnership briefly changed the momentum, but England regained control after breaking the resistance at Edgbaston.

The biggest positive for Pakistan on Day 3 was the partnership between Shan Masood and Azan Awais. The pair put together Pakistan’s first century stand of the series and showed considerably more composure than the visitors had managed earlier in the Test.

Awais reached his half-century from 78 balls and Masood also passed fifty as Pakistan moved to 128/3, reducing the deficit to 192 runs. For a side that had been two wickets down without a run on the board, the partnership represented a significant recovery.

England eventually found the breakthrough through Dan Lawrence. Awais was dismissed for 59 after a successful review, ending the partnership and giving England the opening they needed to resume their attack on Pakistan’s middle order.

Ollie Robinson had already made the early impact with two wickets, while Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue continued to test Pakistan with pace and movement. England’s ability to break partnerships remains central to their push for a series sweep.

What Happens Next in the Edgbaston Test

Pakistan still face a demanding task at Edgbaston, while England need the remaining wickets to move closer to a 3-0 series sweep.

With Pakistan still behind by a significant margin, the next phase of the Test will depend heavily on how much resistance the visitors can offer through their middle and lower order. Extending the innings remains their clearest route to keeping England from finishing the match quickly.

England, meanwhile, will look to maintain pressure with their seamers and attack the remaining batters with the new ball and short spells from their strike bowlers. Breaking partnerships will be crucial if the hosts are to turn their first-innings advantage into a decisive result.

The match also carries significance for England’s series campaign. Having already secured the series, a victory at Edgbaston would complete a 3-0 sweep, while Pakistan need a major batting effort to prolong the contest and avoid another defeat.

England vs Pakistan 3rd Test Day 3: Key Takeaways

Pakistan showed greater resistance on Day 3, but England’s substantial first-innings advantage kept the hosts firmly in control.

Pakistan’s response was led by Shan Masood and Azan Awais, whose century partnership provided a much-needed period of stability after the visitors lost two early wickets.

Awais’ dismissal eventually gave England another opening, while the hosts continued to rely on their pace attack to break partnerships and expose Pakistan’s lower order.

England’s 453 remains the defining advantage of the match. Pakistan therefore need a prolonged second-innings effort to erase the deficit before England can be asked to bat again.

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Sources & Editorial Note

Match details and current developments were checked against official cricket sources and independent match reporting.