It has indeed been challenging and turbulent times for the Pakistan cricket team lately, with on-field and off-field issues affecting them a lot. The Men in Green needed something to cheer and feel happy about, and Razaullah gave that yesterday with the willow in hand at Edgbaston. In what was a remarkable innings, in the final session of play, Razaullah smashed a breath-taking 81 off 63 balls, which included 9 sixes and four fours to the fence. The nine sixes were the joint record for a debutant.
Razaullah’s innings helped Pakistan avoid an innings defeat and set a total of 130 runs to chase for the hosts England, which is not too large but something to bowl at for Pakistan bowlers. Razaullah had smile on his face after the knock and why not. He did his best, enjoyed his time and gave Pakistan something to cheer about on a difficult tour for them.
Razaullah’s thoughts on his innings
Speaking with a grin on his face at the press conference, Razaullah said, “I enjoyed the standing ovation. I like to enjoy life and I was relishing the moment.”Â
Jovial references were made in the press conference on the hundred he scored as an opener in first-class cricket. He scored an unbeaten 58 in the first innings, representing Peshawar and asked his coach in a hilarious manner whether he could bat higher. Well, the coach decided to send him higher as an opener and he managed to score a superlative ton showing he is no mug with the bat.
Razaullah’s thoughts on the challenge of facing the English bowlers
Yesterday’s challenge at Edgbaston was a different challenge altogether. He was up against the bowling line-up of England the four fast bowlers that made light work of Pakistan’s batting and specialist batters in the last 5 innings in this series. He was in a completely different country facing the likes of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue all of whom peppered him with short deliveries, the deliveries that even caused discomfort to Pakistan captain Babar Azam and others as well. But this young man was determined and took it head on.
Razaullah said, “I was being selective with which balls to slog, but they all seemed within range. I wanted to take it as deep as possible. I wasn’t scared of pace. I wanted to punish the balls from Archer that landed on a hard length. There’s nothing to be scared of when you’re playing for your country. I was just enjoying myself.”
The shots he played were clean hitting to say the least. The speed of the bat and the sound the ball made when it connected with the willow was something to admire and see. Yes, there were a handful plays and misses as well and we expect that in an innings that was such high risk. There were few shots that were mistimed and he got away with it as luck favoured the brave in the end. He hit the ball so hard that he broke two bats along the way as well, but when he connected, the ball sailed over the fence for the maximum.
It meant that Razaullah effectively took the fielders out of the equation. England might have had and fielded several men on the hook for his slogs, but on nine occasions, the fielders were mere spectators as it sailed over the fence for the maximum.
Razaullah signed off, “My favourite ball to face is the short ball. I just believed in myself. I thought if I played 50 balls, I’d get a positive result. And thankfully that happened.”Â
Razaullah may have a role to play on Day 4 as well when Pakistan comes out to bowl with a target to defend. With his confidence being sky-high, he may well do some damage with the ball after picking up 4 wickets in the first innings. Pakistan apart from Abbas, will look at Razaullah to give them inspiration with the ball and maybe help Pakistan pull off an unlikely win. England still the favourites though.
Also Read: ENG vs PAK: Ollie Robinson’s All-Round Show Ruins Pakistan