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

So it's into the Last Hour. Fifteen more overs.

This is why Test Cricket is just way better than the short forms - thrilling though they often are. Can't beat this for prolonged tension...

Three results on. What a fight back this is.

Anyone ever chased 400 in Oz?

Pakistan got 450 a few years back, but didn't win...

You can't explain this to non cricket fans. Or Americans. No runs, no wickets, the most exciting outcome could be a draw, yet it's incredibly gripping.

Unfortunately I have somewhere to be at 6pm, so will miss the end. *modded* slow over rates.

sussexpob wrote:Anyone ever chased 400 in Oz?

South Africa once I think ? Have to check that score. But even batting out four sessions as India are just thirty minutes from doing today is incredibly rare.

The win chance actually vanished a long time ago - basically when Vihari got injured , if not when Pant was dismissed. But the fight for the draw has been mesmerising ...


Seven overs left ; but might get extra ones in with Lyon bowling. Wonder if we will see Smith have a trundle ?

bigfluffylemon wrote:Pakistan got 450 a few years back, but didn't win...

You can't explain this to non cricket fans. Or Americans. No runs, no wickets, the most exciting outcome could be a draw, yet it's incredibly gripping.

Unfortunately I have somewhere to be at 6pm, so will miss the end. *modded* slow over rates.

Are you feeding Warne his lines , BFL ?

Last three overs.

These two have faced 280 balls between them. Remarkable effort. Shades of Atherton and Russell in SA all those years ago.

Vihari has only 19 runs but this is surely worth a century in value to his team.

Fifty stand though that is not really relevant. Time to shake hands ?

Too short, not enough deliveries hitting the stumps. Short stuff hasn't worked.

Can't beat a backs to the wall draw.

bigfluffylemon wrote:Too short, not enough deliveries hitting the stumps. Short stuff hasn't worked.

There is only one Neil Wagner

Superb effort from India. One all one to play. Top series.

Sounds like an excellent end to the match. Well done India.... not many teams will bat out the final day of a test from that position

I know there was a point where an India win was a possibility, was there a real feeling of anxiety for the home fans?

alfie wrote:

sussexpob wrote:Anyone ever chased 400 in Oz?

South Africa once I think ? Have to check that score. But even batting out four sessions as India are just thirty minutes from doing today is incredibly rare.

The win chance actually vanished a long time ago - basically when Vihari got injured , if not when Pant was dismissed. But the fight for the draw has been mesmerising ...


Seven overs left ; but might get extra ones in with Lyon bowling. Wonder if we will see Smith have a trundle ?

Found it. Dec 2008 . 414/4 ...Hundreds for Smith and de Villiers , fifties for Kallis Amla and Duminy. (Not a bad lineup !) Aussie pace attack looked OK too - Johnson Siddle and Brett Lee. But the spinner was Jason Krejza - remember him ? The years between Warne and Lyon were tough for Aussie spin fans...

I just wonder if the idiotic behaviour from the crowd gave a few Indian players a bit more focus today. It seems quite a significant moment for India, these are the sorts of moments or occasions their batting has tended to go AWOL in the more recent past. A few players can walk away from this test having proven they have grit, where as all too often they get out to aggressive shots or have their technique tested. Now they need to turn it into consistency.

Still think Australia are favourites to win the last test, but its going to be an exciting conclusion with all to play for. India just have too many players out I think to win the last game.

alfie wrote: Vihari has only 19 runs but this is surely worth a century in value to his team

Even more impressive considering both he, and Pant, were in pain through the innings.