BIRMINGHAM: Unbeaten half‑centuries from Joe Root and Jordan Cox gave England a comprehensive eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the third and final Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.
The win completed England’s first clean sweep over Pakistan at home as England chased the 130-run target on the fourth-day morning, losing only two wickets in the process.
The hosts endured a shaky start as they lost both of their openers in the first over. Veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas claimed two wickets, removing Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay back to the pavilion without any runs.
After early blows, Joe Root and Jordan Cox put the chase back on track. Babar Azam men could not capitalize on a good start as Root seized the opportunity when he was dismissed off a no‑ball from Mohammad Ali. At this stage, England were 40-2.
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Eventually, Root finished the match with a 62 off 69 balls, scoring a record Test half‑century and also surpassing 1,000 runs at the venue.
At the other end, Cox remained calm, scoring 59 not out—his third half‑century of the series—before striking Mohammad Imran through the covers to seal the match in the 25th over.
Abbas, who was the leading wicket‑taker for Pakistan in the innings, taking 2 wickets for 27 runs, was also named the Player of the Series.
With this victory, Joe Root led England side completed a 3-0 series win after victories at Headingley and Lord’s. The Three Lions will take on Sri Lanka in the white-ball series, starting Tuesday, while Pakistan will return home to prepare for their upcoming series against Sri Lanka as they will look for a turnaround at home after a horrible tour of England.
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Written by Iqra Afroz
Iqra Afroz is a sports content writer at SportsManch with a growing passion for cricket and contemporary sports media. She specialises in news writing and digital content, with a focus on delivering concise, accurate and reader-friendly stories. With a keen eye for detail, Iqra aims to provide informative and engaging sports coverage while continuing to develop her voice as a modern sports journalist.