Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Pakistan wont mind Malan chasing after those wide awayswingers.

I watched Bess on the highlights and he seemed to back away quite a bit then throw his bat through the off side. Should be possible to block off his shots.

Good start with the bat though.

Not much rain forecast for the rest of the game.

Despite losing Root England can be fairly happy with this delayed session so far. Bess has played pretty sensibly in extending his night watchman role past thirty ; and they've reached parity with seven in hand...quite a respectable run rate too.
Still plenty to do to take a real grip on the game ; but the remaining batsmen cannot complain they haven't been given a platform to build on...

Pakistan bowling a mixed bag today. Amir looked dangerous ...and was rewarded once. And Faheem bowled some steady stuff ; but they've probably delivered a few too many loose balls which have been duly dispatched.

Shadab has started tidily with the spin option ; I think Bess was looking happier against the pace men.

In the lead now ...

Lead of 16. Have England as favorites unless Pak pull of win like Misbah did versus SL chasing a mammoth second innings total at a very good run rate.

95:5 with England as massive favorites imo if all overs as bowled throughout remaining days.

Plenty of cloud around over the next few days so the pitch shouldn't really go to sleep.

Amir strikes. Good ball that, Dawid had to play it. Edge well taken.

Bess is going to be opening by the end of the summer.....

Malan fails once again, even though he couldnt have hoped for a better situation. Time he went.

Bess goes for 49...... good knock from the lad again.

Another one or two wickets in the next hour, and Pakistan might be giving themselves a chance to get into the game

Looks like Buttler is going to be playing another good old fashioned test innings here....

Slogs three in that over, gets dropped after only 4 balls, luck once again to survive his first over.

England have a lead of 54. Think they will get a good lead.

Pak attack has lost all the pace.

Felt that Bess was going to get a ton.

This is why I don't bet.

Should bat Pakistan out the game now.

Who was the last England nightwatcher to score a ton? I just remember (as everyone does) Tudor going very near.

Jos playing a counter attack innings. 28 from 29.

Takes lead to 77.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Who was the last England nightwatcher to score a ton? I just remember (as everyone does) Tudor going very near.

Don't think we've had one - Eddie Hemmings with 95 at Sydney to help us draw the last match in a 2-1 series defeat - is the one I always recall.

Disappointing from Bairstow in a very advantageous position. England were very good in the Prior/Bell/KP era at seizing these situations and running away with them. Not so much now.