*Official* Pakistan v New Zealand in the UAE 2018

[mr_mister]

Hope Babar chokes just short of 100

Want him to become the next Chetan Chahaul

 

[Starfighter]

Kanes bowling is rubbish. Length equally as trash as Ish, at least Ish offers the chance of a wicket.

How's Kane's action these days?

 

[NZTailender]

Pakistan have been impressive in their disciplined approach. Both sides have been, but NZ just starting to slip now as these two grind us into the dust.

 

[Starfighter]

Crazy that Wagner had bowled more than any of the spinners.

 

[Flem274*]

this is awesome batting.

you just know yasir shah is going to do what sodhi can't and cut through us.

 

[CharlesLara]

How's Kane's action these days?

Gayle esque round army as opposed to his more illegal higher action. Absolutely no loop. Someone said it here best, Mohammed Hafeez like.

 

[Bahnz]

Oh dear, we've dropped 5 catches in this innings and it's already cost us well over 200 runs (as you'd expect). Really disappointing given how well the bowlers have performed as a unit.

 

[CharlesLara]

Oh dear, we've dropped 5 catches in this innings and it's already cost us well over 200 runs (as you'd expect). Really disappointing given how well the bowlers have performed as a unit.

seeing Latham drop that with a helmet on basically sums that up lol

 

[Starfighter]

If there's one thing going for NZ it's that there's only 20 overs to go on day 2 and Pak are only just coming up on 400. That said, I don't see NZ being capable of batting a similar period of time.

 

[smash84]

Haven't seen the game at all but if the SC is anything to go by then the pitch is flat?

Weird declaration this then

 

[Starfighter]

Haven't seen the game at all but if the SC is anything to go by then the pitch is flat?

Weird declaration this then

I think NZ rolling over is a fairly decent likelihood but 418 doesn't seem like that much on this pitch. People seem to have ideas about these end-of-play passages which don't actually produce more wickets than otherwise.

 

[Borges]

Weird declaration this then

Weird batting for the last thirty overs or so, if there actually was a plan to declare today.

 

[Starfighter]

I do like to an innings at scored good old fashioned grinding rates. Of course I'll be curmudgeonly and point out that when such grinding was in fashion the over rate would have meant the declaration would have been half way through the middle session.

 

[Spikey]

when you've just lost a test match because of a horrid batting collapse, I would have thought you'd hold off declaring when you've got two set batsman in. i guess bowling in the last hour before stumps has got into their heads.

 

[kaetor]

I have an awful feeling we're gonna do that bat it out till stumps then lose 2 wickets in the first few overs tomorrow morning thing. Interesting declaration from Pakistan, I'm a little surprised they didn't really try use their wickets in hand to get a few quick runs up beforehand.

 

[harsh.ag]

The declaration is about them trying to maximize their chance to win, I think, because they know they have to grind out two all outs here.

Should have got a few more then in the last 10 overs. Not very smart.

 

[Daemon]

I think it was a decision made in haste to get a crack at NZ before the end of the days play.

If they'd planned it earlier surely the tempo would be up in session 3.

 

[trundler]

I missed the last 2 sessions unfortunately dammit. On to the highlights. Weird declaration I agree but finally a ton for Babar.

 

[Moss]

Was all a bit confused from Pakistan towards the end , the positive for NZ is the total isn't as mammoth as it could've been thanks to a generally tight bowling effort. Still it'll be quite an effort matching 418,would hope for them to be able to survive up till halfway on day 4 to be in it. If Yasir is anywhere near his best all of the above could be irrelevant.

 

[Bijed]

Not convinced by the declaration tbh. 418 is certainly a good score, but it's not massive by any stretch of the imagination. Imo Pakistan's best chance at victory is/was to bat once and enforce the follow on, then try to bundle out NZ again and knock off a small total if needed*. Could still happen, of course, but I think NZ have got a good chance at passing 218, but if the follow-on target was more like 300, I'd give them a significantly lower chance of getting there - not just because of more runs needed but scoreboard pressure is (imo) and exponentially bigger factor with 500 than with 400

I mean, reaching 400-odd for only 5 down is very impressive, but it's no better than getting bowled out for the same score if you don't use the platform to push home the advantage,

*Yeah, I know