Eng in Pak, Oct 7-28

[sussexpob]

Salman Ali Agha makes 100.... fantastic innings, made it in only 108 balls but he hasnt looked rushed or manufactured shots.

Shaheen takes his partners century as the time to start mowing, but he misses it... castle for 26 by Leach.

549-9... are they going to declare? No.... Abrar is strolling out at 11.

[sussexpob]

Jamie Smith misses the easiest stumping in the history of cricket. Can't really get an easier chance as a keeper, but fumbles it....

Abrar then skies one into orbit, and Atkinson drops a dolly.

Absolutely rubbish fielding from England.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ninth wicket stand looks a morale killer.

[mikesiva]

Pakistan 556 all out

Masood 151
Shafique 102
Agha 104*
Shakeel 82

Leach 3-160

[sussexpob]

Well fantastic.... Duckett finally catches one, but instantly holds his hand and signals to the dressing room there is a problem. Looks very concerned.... may have just broken or dislocated a finger catching that ball, it did fly from a Root bouncer (you heard that correct) to him at slip, but he instantly registered he had an issue.

Maybe even a dislocated or broken wrist the way he has his hand over his wrist to stop it moving.

Hopefully that is nothing, but I can't see Duckett opening up in a few minutes

EDIT - Didnt get a replay, but Cricinfo says the ball smashed into his thumb initially. So I guess its a dislocated or broken thumb.

[sussexpob]

Ollie Pope comes out with Crawley....

[sussexpob]

Pope out for a duck....

That is an absolutely unreal catch that from Jamal, one handed behind him, was flying at lightspeed.. why Pope is playing that shot with a fielder right there though, I do not know.

Still no Duckett

[sussexpob]

Ouf... Root looked plumb there, must have been bat in that.... yes, just. Afridi finally gets that ball on the stumps, late swing... cracking ball, but Root just got bat on it.

[sussexpob]

Crawley needs to settle down here. Wants to get bat on everything, but Shaheen has found a great line and length, and he's come close twice to edging that to the fielders behind.

[Arthur Crabtree]

That turned out ok.

Not seen any news on Duckett.

[sussexpob]

Last 2 sessions somewhat showing that either time will have to play badly to be out 20 times and lose on this deck. Some evidence of uneven bounce on day 1, a little nibble with the new ball.... all of that was absent today, the pitch has slowed and got flatter and looks a road now. Shaheen got a little movement and when he got his line tight, had Crawley in a little trouble, but other than that nothing at all... no spin, no movement....

Anything is possible I guess, but England should get passed the follow on target tomorrow, after which I can only see this being a draw. Maybe some turn might come into play, but nothing at all yet. Neither of the 4 spinners in the game have really got it off the straight.

[sussexpob]

Not seen any news on Duckett.

He was seen on the balcony gripping a tennis ball with his thumb heavily strapped. Athers and Ian Ward both said that tends to indicate a dislocation, as its imperative once popped back into place to make sure the muscle doesn't react by tightening up, so its common to have to move it around. The team announced simply that he hadn't gone for an x-ray, and wouldnt bat this evening, and it would be assessed tomorrow.

All in all, it looks like he avoided a big injury as its not broken.

[Durhamfootman]

I read that England are expecting him to bat tomorrow

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pope's duck is starting to stand out.

[Arthur Crabtree]

These two have added 71 in 11 overs.

100 partnership in 16 overs.