Pakistan’s Razaullah Khan made an immediate impact on his Test cricket debut, delivering a spectacular batting performance that helped his team stage an unlikely comeback against England at Edgbaston. The 21-year-old batter, positioned at number nine, scored 81 runs off just 63 balls by striking nine sixes during Pakistan’s second innings on Friday. His explosive assault proved instrumental in rescuing his team from what appeared to be an inevitable defeat.
When Razaullah arrived at the crease, Pakistan faced a precarious situation, trailing by 320 runs and standing just two runs short of forcing England to bat again at 318 for eight wickets. Rather than adopting a defensive approach, the young batter launched a breathtaking counterattack alongside Mohammad Abbas. Their remarkable partnership for the ninth wicket yielded 121 runs, propelling Pakistan to a total of 449 and ultimately providing them with a 129-run first-innings lead.
Razaullah’s nine-six haul established him in the record books as the holder of the most sixes struck by a number nine batter in a single Test innings. His achievement also matched Ben Stokes’s record for the most sixes in a Test match played in England, and equalled Tim Southee’s record for the most sixes by a player on Test debut. Notable moments included three consecutive sixes in one over off Gus Atkinson and reaching his fifty in just 43 balls.
England now faces a chase of 130 runs to secure victory and complete a series sweep, while Razaullah’s debut performance has already cemented his name among Test cricket’s most destructive hitters.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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