After a few weeks in which Pakistan’s batsmen have headed lemming-like to their doom, they finally made England’s bowlers look mortal, unexpectedly dragging this third and final Test into a fourth morning thanks to a raucous stand of 121 between tailenders Razaullah and Mohammad Abbas.Barring more madness on Saturday, it will still not be enough to avoid the 3-0 whitewash that has looked almost inevitable from the opening day of the series. Pakistan’s lead is just 130, and this pitch remains the best batting strip of the summer, though that isn’t saying much.But a total of 449 after five successive surrenders below 200 made a welcome change for their supporters and provided England’s bowlers with a useful reality check ahead of stiffer challenges in South Africa this winter. Ollie Robinson’s bowling average for the series even nudged above eight, for goodness sake.When the dismissal of Razaullah for 81 off 63 balls, stumped as he tried to swing Dan Lawrence for what would have been a tenth six, triggered the close at 7pm, he walked off to a standing ovation from fans of both sides – relieved, regardless of affiliation, to have finally seen some kind of contest. The applause felt like the highlight of the series.At none for two after two balls of their second innings on Thursday afternoon, no one could rule out another two-day finish in this era of fast-forward Tests. Instead, Pakistan found previously hidden reserves of guts and heart on an Edgbaston surface that was badly betrayed by their first-innings collapse of 133.And the manner in which Razaullah counter-attacked, while Abbas carefully compiled a career-best 42, was a reminder that for all the excellence of England’s seamers, their lack of a frontline spinner is a weakness opponents will seek to exploit. Debutant Razaullah (left) ensured Pakistan finally showed some fight against England There are concerns around England’s lack of front-line spinner and how they may fare in less helpful conditionsLawrence had struck earlier in the day with his loopy off-breaks when Azan Awais tickled his second ball down the leg side to end a third-wicket stand of 125 with Shan Masood. But as Razaullah used the pace of the quick bowlers to launch one six after another, it was clear, for the first time in this series, that England were paying for their lack of variety.At first, it seemed like a bit of fun. He had walked out into a hopeless situation after Gus Atkinson had removed Ghazi Ghori and Mohammad Imran in successive overs to reduce Pakistan to 318 for eight, still one run short of an innings defeat.But he ensured England would bat again by pulling Josh Tongue for six, then pulled and drove Atkinson for three meaty sixes in four balls. A straight six off Jofra Archer brought up a 43-ball half-century, and another next ball Pakistan’s 400.Razaullah, one of four members of this team drafted in at the last minute following the Pakistan board’s chaotic decimation of their touring party, swung Archer for another six, before even Abbas got in on the act, bringing up the 100 lead with a straight six off a startled Atkinson.Perhaps the pick of Razaullah’s strokes was a flat-batted thrash over extra cover off Atkinson, by which point England and Joe Root were looking worryingly devoid of ideas. It almost came as a surprise when Abbas cut Tongue to Atkinson at point to end the most entertaining passage of play of the Test summer.Razaullah had time for one more blow, heaving Lawrence over midwicket towards the building site, before he was stumped by Jordan Cox, who enjoyed an excellent day with the gloves in the absence of the injured Jamie Smith. He walked off cursing his demise, though there was no need for self-reproach.With the exception of Robinson, who went at 2.34 an over and will finish the series with a remarkable haul of 21 wickets at 8.76, England’s other quicks went the distance. Between them, Archer, Atkinson and Tongue conceded 335 runs at nearly five an over while taking six wickets, and did little to quieten those who have wondered how they might fare in less helpful conditions.They remain a quartet full of potential, able to pose different threats despite their mutual right-handedness. But the comparisons to England’s 2005 Ashes-winning foursome of Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Flintoff and Simon Jones look, on this evidence anyway, to be premature. Ollie Robinson will finish the series with a remarkable haul of 21 wickets at 8.76Earlier, they had been held up by Masood, who seemed set to become the first centurion on either side in this series, only to be brilliantly caught low in the cordon by Lawrence off Atkinson on 95.Babar Azam, having played nicely for 76, then got into a flap against the short stuff, eventually gloving an unconvincing pull off Tongue down the leg side off Cox. Archer then bounced out Saud Shakeel, Pakistan’s best batsman on this trip, with a brute, and England seemed set for a three-day win when Atkinson had Ghori and Imran caught behind off inside edges.But the 21-year-old Razaullah, who scored a hundred opening the batting for Peshawar against Islamabad in November, was determined not to go down without a fight.He had already marked his debut with the wicket of Root in his first over, adding three more to finish with Pakistan’s best figures. Now he batted with a freedom that suggested a new star may have emerged from the debris of a troubled tour.He has already enjoyed a debut to remember. If he can make England fight for their runs, Pakistan may even fly home with a spring in their step.