ENG vs PAK 2026, ENG vs PAK 3rd Test Match Report, September 09 - 13, 2026

Pakistan 133 and 52 for 2 trail England 453 (Brook 75, Smith 69, Lawrence 65, Gay 60, Robinson 50, Razaullah 4-148) by 268 runs

If there was an image to sum up England‘s Test series against Pakistan, this was the leading contender. Ollie Robinson, arms outstretched as if in flight, celebrated yet another first-ball wicket to crush an already demoralised opposition.

It was the fourth time Robinson had taken a first-ball wicket in 13 spells and this one formed half of a double-wicket maiden as Pakistan stared down the almighty task of overhauling a 320-run first-innings deficit. By stumps they were 52 for 2, still 268 runs behind when rain intervened at around 5.30pm with Robinson back in the changing room boasting 2 for 10 from six overs, including three maidens.

Robinson is the leading wicket-taker for the series with 21 at an average of 6.66 and a staggering economy rate of 1.94. On Thursday, he was arguably England’s most effective batter, too, contributing a quickfire 50 off 47 balls.

One of five England players to score fifty, Robinson could be forgiven for being the least concerned about not kicking on to a century after four batters – Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Dan Lawrence and Emilio Gay – failed to convert their starts.

But, personal ambitions aside, their collective effort took England to an imposing 453 after they had stumbled to 39 for 3 on the first day. As a result, they were in prime position to wrap up victory inside three days.

The weather delayed their progress on day two with Shan Masood forging an unbroken 52-run stand with Azan Awais. Masood, dropped on 13 by Ben Duckett after attempting to drive at Gus Atkinson and sending an outside edge to third slip, was unbeaten on 21 and Awais on 29. It was Duckett’s third drop in the cordon this match, albeit a tough chance sailing overhead to his left and bursting through his hands.

Saim Ayub chased Robinson’s first ball outside off stump and Brook collected at second slip to condemn him to a pair. Three balls later, Robinson had Abdullah Shafique caught by Joe Root at first slip to leave Pakistan 0 for 2 after four balls of their second innings.

Earlier, Lawrence and Brook added 73 runs within the first hour of a morning session offering more inviting batting conditions than a heavily overcast opening day which yielded 14 wickets or those that greeted Pakistan for their second innings.

Brook ran himself out chancing Masood’s very good arm after prodding an Ayub delivery towards midwicket, ending up well short of his ground when Masood fired the ball in to the non-striker’s end and the bowler broke the stumps.

Lawrence looked fluent, unfurling eight boundaries including back-to-back fours off 21-year-old seamer Razaullah and two in one over from Mohammad Abbas, hammered through midwicket and cut with venom through backward point.

So was with palpable frustration that he roared “no!” as he attempted to thread a length ball outside off from Mohammad Imran Randhawa through backward point but succeeded only in chopping onto his stumps for 65. It was Lawrence’s third fifty of the series and the seventh of his Test career, but a century continues to elude him.

At tea, England confirmed that Jordan Cox would take the gloves for Pakistan’s second innings after Smith copped a nasty knock to his left ring finger standing up to the stumps to Robinson on Wednesday. But Smith showed no sign of discomfort with the bat, launching Ayub down the ground for six off the 11th ball he faced.

Smith raised his fifty off 54 deliveries with a punch through the covers off Razaullah, one of nine fours in his innings of 69, and Robinson looked in authority with seven fours and a six plundered into the stands beyond deep midwicket off Mohammad Abbas.

Razaullah – one of Pakistan’s three debutants and their most impressive, even if he leaked runs – accounted for both Smith and Robinson to finish with four wickets. Smith fell to a simple return catch off a leading edge and Robinson picked out Masood at cover.

Jofra Archer pumped two sixes into the stands on the leg side, off Mohammad Ali and Razaullah, and remained unbeaten on 32 off 27 as Josh Tongue was last man out, caught behind off Ali.

Valkerie Baynes is a general editor, women’s cricket, at Cricinfo

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