***Official*** Pakistan in England

[Fusion]

Pak need to get to 329 to avoid follow-on.

 

[Xuhaib]

Don't give up that easy. If this Test is any indication, both bowling attacks are equally crap and so we still have a chance.

Freddie will be back.

 

[Fusion]

And the follow-on is officially avoided.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Decidedly ordinary bowling from England again, all day really. Harmison looks the most dangerous, and he's seriously lacking in consistency. The uneven wicket should help him in the second innings though, and the runs on the board should help too. Pakistan need to get within 100 to have any real chance.

 

[Fusion]

That should have been taken. Akmal lucky there.

 

[Fusion]

Yousaf gets his 150 and then survives a close shout. He's done his job today and has done it well!

 

[silentstriker]

Decidedly ordinary bowling from England again, all day really. Harmison looks the most dangerous, and he's seriously lacking in consistency. The uneven wicket should help him in the second innings though, and the runs on the board should help too. Pakistan need to get within 100 to have any real chance.

Yes, if Pakistan get within 100, then England wont be comfortable without scoring at the minimum another 250-275 runs...which means Pak will only need to bat out only the last day, if that.

 

[Fusion]

Akmal gets a gutsy half century. I gain more and more respect for him each time he comes into these pressure situations, and always seems to rise to the challenge.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Akmal gets a gutsy half century. I gain more and more respect for him each time he comes into these pressure situations, and always seems to rise to the challenge.

...before getting out to KP.

 

[Fusion]

...before getting out to KP.

I jinxed him! But he did his part. Played a lazy shot at the end, but he stepped up during a crucial stage.

 

[Fusion]

Well Pak end the day at 409-7. I'd say considering how they started with 3 wickets down, and lost the 4th early today, Pak should be happy with the day's results. I wish Akmal had not gone to that lazy shot at the end, but overall can't complain. Let's get Boom Boom Afridi going tomorrow and we may end up really close to England's total! And lastly, what an innings by Yousaf! He saves the day for Pakistan. Let's see if he can save the match as well!

 

[Xuhaib]

Mohd Yousuf take a bow.

 

[grecian]

Hmm, draw, never mind, freddie will be back.

Does the fact that KP has actually taking a test wicket now, mean hes more qualified for the all-rounder status, which Paul Collingwood laughably still calls himself?

 

[steds]

I think Collingwood reckons his fielding qualifies him as an allrounder.

 

[FRAZ]

How good and important have these three been for Pakistan ?
Akmal
Razzaq
Afridi
This trio is the greatest to have at number 7,8 and 9 .The best match saving partnership I have ever witnessed was the one b/w Akmal and Razzaq ,against India in India in the second last series..........

 

[GIMH]

And his ODI bowling

 

[Scaly piscine]

Hope Strauss is proud of his declaration now... dolt

Anyway Panesar again shows how over-rated he is, orthodox finger spinners are fairly worthless in Test cricket unless they can bat a fair bit... which he obviously can't and he's not much cop at fielding either. As I've already said before it'll be a miracle if he finishes his Test career averaging below 35 with the ball.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Hope Strauss is proud of his declaration now... dolt

Anyway Panesar again shows how over-rated he is, orthodox finger spinners are fairly worthless in Test cricket unless they can bat a fair bit... which he obviously can't and he's not much cop at fielding either. As I've already said before it'll be a miracle if he finishes his Test career averaging below 35 with the ball.

TBF you kinda provide Strauss's defence yourself there; as you point out Monty really isn't much cop with the bat (to put it politely), so I imagine Strauss thought he'd keep our destiny in our own hands & make a fairly positive declaration. Psychologically speaking it must be better to call a halt yourself than be forced off by being dismissed.

Do you honestly think Monty would've lasted long?

 

[TT Boy]

Hope Strauss is proud of his declaration now... dolt

Anyway Panesar again shows how over-rated he is, orthodox finger spinners are fairly worthless in Test cricket unless they can bat a fair bit... which he obviously can't and he's not much cop at fielding either. As I've already said before it'll be a miracle if he finishes his Test career averaging below 35 with the ball.

We only had one wicket left, you would have bemoaned Strauss if Bell and Panesar spent an hour at the crease adding only twenty more runs. The declaration was correct IMO, considering the innings had already lost it's potency.

Though I agree with your point in regard to Monty Panesar thought he was very average today. We all know Mohammad Yousuf is one of the finest players of spin in world cricket, his made far better spinners (Shane Warne) look very ordinary but Panesar was completely useless today (how many times did he drop the ball short) even KP was getting more turn and bounce. Could be a hard long summer for Monty.

 

[pskov]

The declaration was correct. Making Pakistan bat with an hour, hour and a half to go in the day is a completely different scenario to making them bat a quick 20 mins at the end and then still have the openers at the crease the next day. The uncertainty of the first situation helped create those three wickets, virtually four with the inclusion of the verylateeveningwatchman.

Overall today was Pakistan's, however England are still in contol of this test. If they can get the final 3 wickets for no more than 50 more runs, a lead of around 70-80 would be very handy indeed. Then bat the rest of the day and see if Pakistan can chase 350-ish on a last day wicket.