***Official*** England in Pakistan

[Neil Pickup]

Wow Shoaib seems to batting pretty well- I don't want to jinx it, but we could we see his first half century?

Sixty seconds later...

 

[Adamc]

Haha, Shoaib's HS already (I guess he thought that was enough). Very difficult to imagine England levelling the series from here, unless Inzy's not coming back (is he?).

 

[ClownSymonds]

Better to have two set batsmen by time the new ball comes. I don't think this is entirely a bad thing for Pakistan. Shoaib Akhtar played very well, and did more than his job.

 

[social]

Cricket's not fair.

Harmy and Flintoff have tried their guts out and have precious little to show for it.

Plunkett has bowled 9 overs of ordinary medium pace and has 2 -37.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Haha, Shoaib's HS already. Very difficult to imagine England levelling the series from here, unless Inzy's not coming back (is he?).

He is batting next, I think. After Kamran or Yousuf gets out.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Cricket's not fair.

Harmy and Flintoff have tried their guts out and have precious little to show for it.

Plunkett has bowled 9 overs of ordinary medium pace and has 2 -37.

Shoaib was relaxed after getting past the main bowlers all the way to Plunkett, and was in the mood to hit a big shot before he had gotten used to Plunkett's bowling.

 

[Blaze]

Wow Shoaib seems to batting pretty well- I don't want to jinx it, but we could we see his first half century?

Why Andy? Why?

 

[andyc]

My god that happens to me SO much it's annoying.

 

[Nate]

Unlike the gay Cricinfo man, I`d like to congratulate Akhtar or a superb knock. Disciplined batting to be part of a potentially match-winning partnership. Great stuff, and Yousuf keeps on going.

 

[Burpey]

Well batted Shoaib, he did his job. Very important for Youhana (he's still that to me) and Kamran to build a good partnership.

Btw, fastest outfield ever?

 

[ClownSymonds]

Btw, fastest outfield ever?

Doesn't seem any faster than average to me.

 

[Neil Pickup]

My god that happens to me SO much it's annoying.

Would appreciate it if you'd trigger another five please.

 

[ClownSymonds]

Would appreciate it if you'd trigger another five please.

And another ten when England bat.

 

[andyc]

Would appreciate it if you'd trigger another five please.

I'll try my best not to, but it does always happen to me.

Last cricket match, our opening batsman played an awesome cover drive, after which I said 'He'll be out next ball probably.' Next ball straight on to the off stump.

 

[aussie]

well a frustration session for England, now they really are up againts it if they want to win this test & draw the series..

 

[Neil Pickup]

If I was Steve Harmison, I'd be on the verge of breaking something soon. The number of edges/fends/deflections he's induced only to see things fall short/get dropped/loop into a gap is ridiculous. He has bowled as well as I've ever seen him do and gone utterly unrewarded.

 

[a10khan]

Sheikh Mohammad Yousaf. .

I'm sure u can do without posting such crap.

To be fair, it was a terrible century, and he didn't deserve it.

He did look in a bit of a trouble against short pitched stuff but did well in the end. Played with great composure, after being dropped @ 16. But u certainly cant say he dint deserve it. Surely not a terrible century, atleast not as terrible as Collingwood's 96 or Pieterson's 100 in the last game.

 

[jack_sparrow]

well a frustration session for England, now they really are up againts it if they want to win this test & draw the series..

I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete

Oh simple thing where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

Oh simple thing where have you gone
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?

 

[a10khan]

Overall, great stuff by Pak. Shoaib was amazing as he passed his highest test score. Yousuf was stable at his end. Important for Yousuf to stick around and get a big 100. Batting 4th would be tough as it is, a 100-run lead or so would be ideal for Pak.

 

[aussie]

If I was Steve Harmison, I'd be on the verge of breaking something soon. The number of edges/fends/deflections he's induced only to see things fall short/get dropped/loop into a gap is ridiculous. He has bowled as well as I've ever seen him do and gone utterly unrewarded.

yes the harsh lif of a fast bowler..