WATCH: Pakistan's Razaullah receives standing ovation from English crowd in debut match
(Courtesy : X.com)
Razaullah’s 81 helped Pakistan set a target of 130 runs for England at Edgbaston.
Test cricket is one of the formats that requires a great deal of mastery and composure. Some innings in Test cricket compel you to watch the match with undivided attention. Razaullah’s batting in the 3rd Test was one such innings.
The bowling all-rounder came in at No. 9 in his debut match for Pakistan. After being dismissed for just 11 runs in the first innings, the 21-year-old had every reason to play cautiously in the second innings, but he did exactly the opposite.
Instead of merely facing the English bowlers, he adopted an aggressive approach against bowlers like Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, and Josh Tongue. Usually, this kind of hitting is seen only in T20 cricket.
What made this innings even more historic was its sheer unpredictability, given that a No. 9 batsman played it. Razaullah showed no signs of succumbing to the pressure; instead, he approached it as an enjoyable experience.
Razaullah owns the stage at Edgbaston with his 81-run innings
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The number tells only part of the story, as he smashed 81 runs from just 63 balls. In just his second Test innings, he played a sensational counter-attacking knock, hitting 9 sixes.
Archer, Atkinson and Tongue all found themselves under pressure from a batter whom they had never imagined would attack them in an international match.
“I was being selective with which balls to slog, but they all seemed within range,” he said casually following his extraordinary knock.
“I wanted to take it as deep as possible. I wasn’t scared of pace. I wanted to punish the balls from Archer that landed on a hard length. There’s nothing to be scared of when you’re playing for your country. I was just enjoying myself,” the young seamer added.
His 43-ball fifty became the fastest Test half-century by a Pakistan debutant. He shared a magnificent 121-run partnership with Mohammad Abbas.
This helped Pakistan post a convincing total against England, which otherwise could have been an easy win for the English side. He also picked four wickets in the first innings and was Pakistan’s highest wicket-taker.
The batter was eventually dismissed for 81, and the Edgbaston crowd rose to applaud him. A standing ovation from the English crowd is a huge appreciation for any young cricketer, especially a debutant.
Watch here:
The 21-year-old arrived as an unknown cricketer but will leave Edgbaston as one of Pakistan’s most remarkable choices.
How many wickets did Razaullah pick in the 3rd Test?
Razaullah picked up 4 wickets in the first innings during the 3rd Test at Edgbaston.
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