England vs Pakistan 3rd Test: Shan Masood and Azan Awais Lead Pakistan Fightback

England vs Pakistan, 3rd Test took an unexpected turn on the third day at Edgbaston as Shan Masood and Azan Awais finally gave Pakistan the resistance that had been missing throughout the series.

After being bowled out for just 133 in their first innings and conceding a massive 320-run lead to England, Pakistan were again in serious trouble when they lost both openers without scoring in their second innings. However, captain Shan Masood and young batter Azan Awais responded with a determined partnership that temporarily halted England’s march towards a series sweep.

At lunch, Pakistan were 184 for 3, still 136 runs behind England’s imposing first-innings total of 453. Masood remained unbeaten on 83, while Awais had made 59 before Dan Lawrence finally ended their partnership.

Pakistan finally show fight after disastrous start

Pakistan’s second innings could hardly have started worse. Ollie Robinson removed Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique in the opening over on the previous day, leaving Pakistan at 0 for 2.

The situation was particularly damaging because England had already established a first-innings advantage of 320 runs.

Instead of collapsing again, however, Masood and Awais produced the sort of resistance Pakistan had been searching for throughout the tour. Their partnership grew steadily and eventually became Pakistan’s first century stand of the three-Test series.

The pair added 125 runs for the third wicket, including 73 runs during the third morning. Their approach was not about attacking England at every opportunity. They focused on surviving good deliveries, punishing loose balls and gradually reducing the deficit.

That change in approach gave Pakistan something they had rarely possessed during the series: sustained time at the crease.

Shan Masood survives multiple chances

Masood’s unbeaten 83 was particularly significant because the Pakistan captain had benefited from several reprieves.

He had already been dropped on 13 in the previous day’s play. On the third morning, another chance went down when substitute fielder Theo Wylie could not hold onto a difficult opportunity as Masood attempted to drive.

The ball instead ran away for four, taking Masood closer to his half-century.

Wylie’s error was understandable but costly. England captain Joe Root immediately offered support to the substitute fielder, showing the pressure involved in maintaining concentration during a long Test match.

Masood eventually reached his fifty from 81 deliveries, continuing to build the innings after surviving those opportunities.

Azan Awais provides crucial support

For Awais, the innings represented an important opportunity to show that Pakistan’s batting future can offer more resistance than the team’s early performances on the tour suggested.

The young batter reached his fifty from 78 balls and looked increasingly comfortable as the partnership with Masood developed.

He responded positively to Josh Tongue’s bowling, finding boundaries through square leg and cover when England offered him scoring opportunities.

His partnership with Masood was important not only because of the runs but also because of the time it consumed. England had hoped to exploit Pakistan’s fragile batting order and finish the match quickly after establishing such a huge first-innings advantage.

Instead, Awais and Masood forced England’s bowlers to work for every breakthrough.

Dan Lawrence finally breaks the partnership

England eventually found the breakthrough through Dan Lawrence’s offspin.

Lawrence struck with his second delivery of the spell when Awais feathered a delivery down the leg side. Jordan Cox, deputising behind the stumps for the injured Jamie Smith, completed the catch.

The dismissal initially created uncertainty because Cox himself was not completely convinced that he had heard an edge.

Root, however, had a much clearer view from leg slip and immediately called for a review after Awais was initially given not out. DRS confirmed that the ball had made contact with the bat.

The dismissal ended a partnership worth 125 runs and gave England a much-needed opening after a frustrating morning.

Pakistan’s first century stand of the series

The partnership between Masood and Awais deserves attention because of what it represented for Pakistan’s batting performance across the tour.

Before this stand, Pakistan had struggled to put together substantial partnerships against England’s bowling attack. The visitors’ first innings total of 133 was another example of their inability to stay together for long periods.

Masood and Awais changed that pattern.

Even though Pakistan remained well behind, the partnership provided evidence that their batting could withstand pressure when the approach was disciplined.

England still hold a commanding advantage

Pakistan’s resistance should not obscure the larger match situation. England remain firmly in control.

The hosts scored 453 in their first innings after Pakistan had managed only 133. That gave England a lead of 320 runs before Pakistan began their second attempt.

At lunch, Pakistan had reached 184 for 3, leaving them 136 runs short of making England bat again.

That means Pakistan still face the enormous task of wiping out the deficit before they can think about setting England a target.

England therefore remain favourites to complete a 3-0 series victory, but Pakistan’s improved resistance has made the route to that result less straightforward than it appeared after the opening exchanges of the second innings.

Ollie Robinson had already put England in control

Before Masood and Awais began their resistance, Ollie Robinson had produced one of the defining spells of the match.

He removed Saim Ayub with the first ball of Pakistan’s second innings and then dismissed Abdullah Shafique four deliveries later. Pakistan were suddenly 0 for 2, and England appeared to be heading towards another rapid collapse.

Robinson’s recent form has been exceptional. His double strike added to an already impressive run of wicket-taking performances during the summer.

His early breakthroughs also demonstrated why England’s pace attack has been so difficult for Pakistan to handle. The combination of movement, accuracy and pressure around the off stump has repeatedly created problems.

Masood’s innings becomes a test of leadership

For Masood, the innings was about more than personal runs. As Pakistan captain, he had to provide stability after his team suffered another difficult start.

His decision to remain patient proved important. Rather than attempting to force the scoring rate, he built the innings gradually and allowed Awais to settle alongside him.

Masood’s two dropped chances also added an element of fortune to his innings, but converting opportunities after receiving reprieves is one of the fundamental challenges of Test cricket.

By reaching 83 unbeaten by lunch, he had positioned himself to potentially turn a promising partnership into a substantial individual score.

Pakistan’s young batting needs moments like this

Awais’s contribution could also have wider significance for Pakistan.

After a difficult tour in which the team’s selection, batting performances and internal stability have all attracted attention, a young player capable of standing up against England’s attack provides a positive sign.

His 59 did not erase Pakistan’s problems, but it demonstrated the value of giving young batters an opportunity to spend extended periods at the crease against high-quality opposition.

The next challenge is consistency. One partnership cannot solve the structural problems surrounding a batting lineup, but it can provide confidence and a template for how the team needs to approach difficult Test situations.

England’s fielding pressure also tells a story

England’s missed chances gave Pakistan opportunities to remain alive in the contest.

Masood’s reprieves were particularly important because every additional run became valuable while Pakistan attempted to erase a 320-run deficit.

At the same time, England continued to create pressure through their bowling. Lawrence’s dismissal of Awais showed the importance of maintaining patience when a partnership begins to grow.

Root’s quick decision to review the Awais dismissal was another example of how captaincy decisions can influence Test matches. Without the review, Awais would have remained at the crease and Pakistan’s partnership could have continued.

What Pakistan need from Babar Azam

After Awais’s dismissal, the responsibility shifted towards Babar Azam and the remaining Pakistan batting order.

With Masood still unbeaten, Pakistan needed another meaningful partnership rather than allowing England to regain complete control through a cluster of wickets.

The objective was simple: reduce the deficit, occupy the crease and force England to bowl for an extended period.

Even reaching parity would represent a significant improvement from Pakistan’s first-innings performance. Any lead beyond that would transform the final stages of the match.

Can Pakistan force England to bat again?

The immediate mathematical target for Pakistan was to reach 454, which would erase England’s first-innings advantage.

At 184 for 3, they still required 269 more runs simply to draw level. That is a substantial challenge with seven wickets remaining.

England therefore remain in an extremely strong position. But Test cricket is often shaped by time as much as runs. If Masood can continue batting deep into the innings and Pakistan’s lower order contributes, England may have to wait longer than expected for their opportunity to close out the match.

Why the century stand matters despite the deficit

It would be easy to look at Pakistan’s deficit and dismiss the partnership as irrelevant. That would overlook its real value.

Pakistan needed to demonstrate that they could absorb pressure, construct a partnership and force England to earn wickets. Masood and Awais did exactly that for more than two hours of determined batting.

The partnership also provided Pakistan with a potential blueprint for future Test cricket: defend well, value partnerships and make opposition bowlers work for breakthroughs.

Whether that approach can continue for the remainder of the innings will determine whether this becomes merely a brief fightback or the foundation of a genuinely competitive fourth-innings scenario.

Final Verdict

England vs Pakistan in the third Test remains heavily tilted towards the hosts despite Pakistan finally showing signs of resistance at Edgbaston.

Shan Masood’s unbeaten 83 and Azan Awais’s 59 produced Pakistan’s first century partnership of the series, lifting the visitors from 0 for 2 to 184 for 3. Their 125-run stand prevented England from immediately exploiting the massive 320-run first-innings lead.

Dan Lawrence eventually dismissed Awais after England successfully reviewed the original not-out decision, but Pakistan still had Masood at the crease and Babar Azam joining him.

England remain in command because Pakistan still trail by 136 runs and need to erase that deficit before creating a target. Yet after two disappointing Tests, this partnership has given Pakistan something they had been missing: sustained resistance.

The next phase will determine whether Masood can turn his 83 into a major Test innings and whether Pakistan can force England to bat again. For now, the visitors have at least made England work for their expected victory.