England in Dubai vs Pakistan...Cricket.

[Gargamel]

200 up, we are motoring now.

More draws than John Wayne or an Oakland Furniture shop.

[Gargamel]

2.65 runs an over

Mind you we have saved the follow on.

If we bat all day today at 3 an over, we will have a lead of 30 runs.

Times like this when you wish ball tampering was made legal.

[Gargamel]

spikeyhead said:

Double ton for Cook.

In the circumstances a substantial effort. Would have been very English to fold up for 250 in the innings (as some on here were predicting)

Just a shame it is a little ahem one paced from Cook.

[Gargamel]

hornetrider said:

And fails. To a bowler who was 0/176.

He did hit a six though, something that Cook failed to do in nearly 600 balls....

[Gargamel]

Tragic, Cook cost us that test match

[Gargamel]

juice said:

Anyone watching today ? Pretty good start from Eng. Pakistan 58-2

Only on Cricinfo, not watching a live stream.

Yeah, not too bad - good to see few go down. We really should be winning this series.

[Gargamel]

Well, this would seem to be a little less of a snooze fest, Pak at 370/8. England picking up wickets fairly regularly. Though to be fair hitting catches to Jimmy A is always a bad idea, ideally you want to give chances to Bell....

Hopefully we can move the game on from here and push for a result.

[Gargamel]

Rather be chasing 378 than what we had last week. See how we go now. Don't think Cook will be grinding out another 3 day double century.

Wouldn't be surprised if his feet are still like lead after that.

[Gargamel]

105 - 2 nearly four an over - Chef closing in on 10,000 test runs.

What could possibly go wrong

[Gargamel]

Bell is in gash form, and surely won't travel to SA,

James Taylor needs a place !

Buttler, Stokes, Ali all failed. Though Moeen must be relatively exempt as he is learning a new role

Broad needs to bat the situation, has gone back to having a Waft thinking there is no pressure on him.

We are going lose this one....

[Gargamel]

Ian Bell This is your moment....!

[Gargamel]

fathomfive said:

Meanwhile, South Africa have hit three centuries and are 430-4 in an ODI against India!

Pretty Impressive stuff - AB 11 sixes ... he is a talented chap.

[Gargamel]

So 16 overs left tonight, strike rate of 2.5, so that is another 40 runs - so Say 150 runs at close of play

90 overs tomorrow to chase 320 - Stokes, Bairstow, Buttler, Wood, Broad. I have no idea what Rashid is like with a bat, we know Jimmy A is certain to make a run a ball 50 if required.

Would be a new world record run chase, but I think we can do it.

And look, as I type Root smashes another four. 100 more shots like that Rooty and we can win this.

[Gargamel]

dav123a said:

Bell just gone , looking like a tough day tmw.

Will Bell tour South Africa ?

Personally, I think it is a while since Bell grabbed a game by the scruff of the neck and dragged it in our favour.

[Gargamel]

Well after losing Root I fully expected the rest to proceed to the nearest exit.

At least Broad is getting some time in the middle and we are making them bowl more than they would like in the heat.


Think this team needs a freshen up before South Africa, just not sure this is the best England can produce.

Stokes...is he really the future ? averages 31 with the bat and 38 with the ball. About the same as Moeen. Surely there is a case for another specialist Bowler, and a specialist Bat. Is Moeen really a specialist bat ? he ain't no opener thats for sure.

[Gargamel]

Could we have Jimmy A blocking out the final 30 overs for a glorious draw and moral victory ?

Not too far to go, Rashid has played pretty well here.

[Gargamel]

198 Runs Needed

168 Balls to come.

Wood, Rashid, Jimmy A Just the men to do it.

[Gargamel]

hornetrider said:

How's the light?!

Frustratingly with only 4 runs from 5 overs it seems Rashid has sportingly agreed to only bat for a draw. A true gent and Percy Fender would approve.

It would seem reasonable then if we don't require all the balls to win, that perhaps the last 8 overs as has been the way on most days might not get bowled ....

[Gargamel]

hornetrider said:

We can't... can we?

They won't... will they?

Even half an hour ago I would have said not. But just a sense that the Bowlers have there heads down at the moment, time running out, no new ideas and some balls looking pretty lazy now.

Still odds are against it. One slip and they will revitalise for the last wicket. Rashid and Wood both on career high scores (maybe Wood needs a couple more)

Fantastic effort, but they have to see it though

[Gargamel]

hornetrider said:

Gahhhh Wood gone

I humbly apologise, my fault.

Just go away and think about what you have done....

Odds against us now.