An unassailable 128-run alliance between skipper Joe Root and Jordan Cox steered the hosts past a mini-crisis to complete an eight-wicket triumph at Edgbaston. Root finished undefeated on 62 alongside Cox’s unbeaten 59, effortlessly reaching their 130-run target within 24.2 overs. The comprehensive result marks the inaugural instance of an English team completing a clean sweep over Pakistan on home soil. Both batters showed great composure after a turbulent start to the fourth morning of the final clash.
Early tension gripped the venue when pace bowler Mohammad Abbas destroyed the top order in his opening over, dismissing both Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay for ducks. Abbas registered figures of 2-27 as Duckett edged the initial delivery to cap a dismal campaign, followed immediately by Gay trapped in front. The visitors missed a pivotal opportunity to gain total control when Mohammad Ali bowled Root for 23, only for the delivery to be invalidated due to an overstep with the score at 35-2. That reprieve allowed the captain to capitalize alongside Cox and banish any lingering anxiety of an unexpected defeat.
The contest had featured remarkable swings, beginning with Pakistan being dismissed for a paltry 133 in their first innings as Josh Tongue claimed 4-42, Ollie Robinson grabbed 3-15, and Jofra Archer took 3-25, despite Saud Shakeel’s 43 and Abbas’s 21. The home side responded with a formidable total of 453, propelled by Harry Brook’s top score of 75 alongside fifties from Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65), Emilio
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