EDGBASTON — England overcame an early scare on the fourth day of this final Test against Pakistan to complete a 3-0 series whitewash with an eight-wicket win in Birmingham.
Captain Joe Root and Jordan Cox led the way with unbeaten half-centuries as the hosts chased down 130 in 24.2 overs.
It came after England were reduced to two for two in the first over of the chase, after Mohammad Abbas removed openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay for ducks.
Root’s men were set a target rather more challenging than they would have been hoping for after Pakistan debutant Razaullah Khan’s 81 off 63 balls the previous evening during an innings where the 21-year-old fast bowler hit nine sixes.
There had previously been seven targets of 130 or less successfully defended in Tests in this country, most recently England defending 124 during the 1997 Ashes when they bowled out Australia for 104 at The Oval.
