England's bid for two-day Test win halted by weather

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 11, 2026

Rain interrupted play on the fourth day of the final Test at Edgbaston with Pakistan struggling at 52 for 2, still 268 runs behind England, delaying what looked like a quick victory for the hosts. England’s strong batting and bowling performances have put them in a commanding position to complete a 3-0 series sweep once play resumes on Friday.

England’s attempt to secure a two-day victory in the final Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston was interrupted by rain on Thursday, halting play with the tourists struggling at 52 for 2, still 268 runs behind and facing an uphill battle to avoid an innings defeat. The latest stoppage came at 17:07 BST, and although an additional half-hour could have been added to extend play until 19:00, weather conditions prevented any further cricket in Birmingham.

England had started the day strongly, resuming on 156 for 4 with a 23-run lead. Key contributions from Harry Brook (75), Jamie Smith (69), Dan Lawrence (65), and Ollie Robinson (50) propelled England to a commanding first-innings total of 453. The hosts’ dominant batting display gave them a massive lead of 320 runs over Pakistan.

Pakistan’s batting has been fragile throughout the series, with none of their innings surpassing 200 runs or lasting more than 51 overs. Early breakthroughs by Robinson, who took two wickets for 10 runs, reduced Pakistan to 0 for 2, setting the stage for a potential quick win for England inside two days.

Despite England’s strong position, rain denied them the chance to complete the victory on Thursday. The match is scheduled to resume on Friday, when England are expected to complete a 3-0 series sweep over Pakistan.

The match has also highlighted a lack of hundreds from the England side this summer, with no batsman converting promising starts into centuries at Edgbaston. Ben Duckett’s hundred against New Zealand at Trent Bridge remains the only Test century by an English player on home soil during the season so far.

Pakistan’s innings have been undermined by England’s bowling attack, notably Olly Stone and Luke Wood, and off-spinner Matt Parkinson, who took four wickets for 148 runs in the first innings. Pakistan’s Shakeel recorded the highest score by a tour batsman with 43 runs.

With England firmly in control and the weather causing disruptions, the final day is expected to see the hosts wrap up a dominant victory to cap off an unchallenged series.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.