***Official*** Pakistan in England

[Scaly piscine]

Yes, because with Panesar at 1 end, they were really going to score another 50 or so, weren't they?

Anything they'd have scored would have been useful and with your hero Bell at the other end and Panesar who scored 26 in his last Test against better bowling they could have easily added another 20-30 without anything exceptional happening.

 

[TT Boy]

Umar Gul what happened?

Sincere apologises Umar.

 

[Fusion]

Sincere apologises Umar.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Anything they'd have scored would have been useful and with your hero Bell at the other end and Panesar who scored 26 in his last Test against better bowling they could have easily added another 20-30 without anything exceptional happening.

True, but England wouldn't have gotten a decent crack at the Pakistani top order that night.

 

[Fusion]

Good fifty for Straus. Looks in form.

 

[Scaly piscine]

True, but England wouldn't have gotten a decent crack at the Pakistani top order that night.

So instead of 20 overs they would have gotten around 15, still plenty to have a 'decent crack' at the Pakistani top order. Doesn't really make any difference as far as I'm concerned.

Anyway could do with a KP special to help a declaration come earlier... possibly.

 

[Fusion]

Pietersen gone! Pakistan needed a breakthrough badly.

 

[superkingdave]

Well the only way i can see a result now Pietersen gets out is if England collapse. Can't see England scoring enough runs in time to have enough overs at Pakistan.

 

[Fusion]

Afridi getting great turn and bounce. As pointed out by the commentators, even more so than Kaneria!

 

[Fusion]

Collingwood gone! Two wickets in as many overs. England still in control, but things can get interesting here.

 

[Buddhmaster]

I like to think of my TV as being of normal size. But I can't see the bloody score of the game!

 

[Fusion]

Afridi full of fire right now. He's brought a lot of energy and passion here.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Another wicket here & we could be in the mire a bit. Two very lazy dismissals from KP & Colly. I know one could argue they were trying to force the pace to set us up for a win, but for me I'd take not losing as the first target.

 

[Fusion]

Another wicket here & we could be in the mire a bit. Two very lazy dismissals from KP & Colly. I know one could argue they were trying to force the pace to set us up for a win, but for me I'd take not losing as the first target.

Lazy dismissals I'd agree with. But "not losing as first target" is a bad approach to me. Once you have that defensive mentatility, things tend to fall apart IMO. I'd rather my batsman be aggresive. Not dumb aggresive, mind you!

 

[BoyBrumby]

Lazy dismissals I'd agree with. But "not losing as first target" is a bad approach to me. Once you have that defensive mentatility, things tend to fall apart IMO. I'd rather my batsman be aggresive. Not dumb aggresive, mind you!

I think we were trying to force the pace from too far out, we don't have the runs on the board to start playing like millionaires yet. We have a rather long tail (Plunkett is no way a test 8), so I think we should throttle down until we're (say) 300 to the good.

If we get there...

 

[silentstriker]

If they can get a lead of 350 today, they can feel pretty safe and declare.

 

[superkingdave]

great work from inzi

 

[Scaly piscine]

If they can get a lead of 350 today, they can feel pretty safe and declare.

What's safe about it? Just over 3 an over (formality with our bowlers), bat out and you win... great.

 

[Fusion]

Well you could almost see that coming. Straus trying to force a run in. The nervous 99 got the best of him. And what about that strike from Inzi! A one handed grab and throw in the same motion. I didn't realize Inzi can move like that!

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Haha. Captain Courageous selflessly charges through for the single...

Good fielding by Inzy though.