ENG vs PAK, 3rd Test Match 2026: Preview, Prediction & Teams
England completed a clean sweep over Pakistan after winning the third and final Test by eight wickets at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The ENG vs PAK, 3rd Test Match 2026 produced a dramatic turnaround, with Pakistan recovering strongly after being bowled out cheaply in the first innings before England eventually chased down a target of 130 on the fourth morning.
The victory confirmed England’s 3-0 series win after they had already taken the first two Tests. Pakistan had moments of resistance during the final match, but England’s bowling attack, strong first-innings batting and calm finish with the bat proved decisive.
Pakistan won the toss and were asked to bat first. Their opening innings quickly turned into a major struggle as England’s pace bowlers found movement and kept the pressure on the visiting batters. Pakistan lost four wickets for only 26 runs inside the first 10 overs, leaving the team in serious trouble.
Saud Shakeel provided some resistance with 43 from 47 balls, hitting seven boundaries. Mohammad Abbas also contributed 21 runs, but Pakistan could not establish a substantial partnership. Josh Tongue led England’s bowling attack with four wickets for 42 runs, while Ollie Robinson took three for 15 and Jofra Archer claimed three for 25.
Pakistan were eventually dismissed for only 133 in 33.5 overs. The low total gave England an excellent opportunity to take control of the Test, and the home side made full use of it.
England’s reply was far more convincing. Harry Brook top-scored with 75 from 97 balls, while Dan Lawrence made an important 65 from 82 deliveries. Jamie Smith added 69 from 84 balls and Emilio Gay scored 60. Ollie Robinson then produced a valuable half-century, making 50 from only 47 balls.
England continued attacking and eventually reached 453 all out. Their total gave them a huge first-innings advantage of 320 runs and put Pakistan under enormous pressure.
Despite England’s dominance, Pakistan’s debutant Razaullah produced an impressive individual performance with the ball. He claimed four wickets for 148 runs, removing Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Emilio Gay and Ollie Robinson. His figures were expensive, but his four wickets represented an important contribution against a strong England batting lineup.
Pakistan needed a major response in their second innings, and this time the visitors showed much greater determination. Azan Awais scored 59 from 84 balls, while captain Shan Masood played an important innings of 95 from 148 deliveries. Masood struck 12 boundaries and came close to a well-deserved century.
Babar Azam also played an important role, scoring 76 from 103 balls with 11 fours and a six. His partnership-building helped Pakistan recover from their early problems and gave the lower order an opportunity to push the total much higher.
The biggest surprise came from Razaullah. After already making an impact with the ball, the debutant produced an attacking innings of 81 from just 63 balls. He struck four fours and nine sixes, putting England’s bowlers under pressure during an aggressive counterattack.
Razaullah’s partnership with Mohammad Abbas was particularly important for Pakistan.
Abbas added 42 from 67 balls, and the pair helped Pakistan move towards a competitive total. Pakistan eventually reached 449 all out, meaning England required 130 runs to win the match.The ENG vs PAK, 3rd Test Match 2026 was not completely straightforward for England when the final chase began. Pakistan needed early wickets, and Mohammad Abbas gave them exactly the start they wanted.
Ben Duckett was dismissed from the first ball of England’s innings after being caught behind. Abbas then removed Emilio Gay for a duck, leaving England at 0 for 2 and suddenly giving Pakistan renewed hope.
However, Joe Root and Jordan Cox responded with composure. Instead of allowing Pakistan’s early strikes to create another collapse, the pair built a match-winning partnership. They attacked the loose deliveries while remaining patient against the pressure from Pakistan’s bowlers.
Root finished unbeaten on 62 from 69 balls, hitting eight boundaries. Cox also remained not out, scoring 59 from 76 balls and striking eight fours
Dan Lawrence was named Player of the Match after making 65 in England’s first innings and contributing two wickets for 17 runs during Pakistan’s second innings. His all-round performance played an important role in England’s control of the match.
For Pakistan, Razaullah was one of the main talking points of the game. The debutant finished with four wickets in England’s first innings and then scored 81 during Pakistan’s second innings. Shan Masood’s 95 and Babar Azam’s 76 were also important contributions during Pakistan’s fightback.
The match featured several major turning points. Pakistan’s first-innings collapse to 133 gave England the early advantage, while England’s 453 created a huge lead. Pakistan’s second-innings recovery then briefly changed the momentum before England’s final chase settled the contest.
The ENG vs PAK, 3rd Test Match 2026 ended with England on 130 for 2 after Pakistan had posted 133 and 449. England’s first innings had produced 453, leaving the hosts with a relatively modest target despite Pakistan’s impressive second-innings recovery.
The result completed England’s 3-0 series victory over Pakistan. England had already won the opening Test by an innings and 103 runs and followed it with a 194-run victory in the second Test. The third match therefore became the final chapter of a one-sided series result.
Pakistan will take some positives from their second-innings performance, particularly the contributions from Razaullah, Shan Masood and Babar Azam. However, their first-innings collapse and England’s ability to capitalize on it ultimately proved too costly.
For England, the series ended with another strong performance. Their fast bowlers made early breakthroughs, their batting lineup established a huge first-innings total, and Root and Cox handled the final chase with confidence.
The ENG vs PAK, 3rd Test Match 2026 will also be remembered for Razaullah’s impressive debut and England’s clinical finish. After four days of fluctuating momentum, England held their nerve and completed an eight-wicket victory at Edgbaston to finish the Pakistan tour with a 3-0 Test series sweep.
