India in England Aug-Sep 2021 (& July 2022)

[sussexpob]

India slowing it down again, and Crawley is getting a bit itchy trigger finger. Had a mow at one a few overs ago, then given out on a bit of a wild sweep, but rightfully overturned in the end. He's done the hard work, bide your time and let India blink first Zak...

[sussexpob]

Lees 50 in 44 balls.

[sussexpob]

India slowing it down again, and Crawley is getting a bit itchy trigger finger. Had a mow at one a few overs ago, then given out on a bit of a wild sweep, but rightfully overturned in the end. He's done the hard work, bide your time and let India blink first Zak...

I mean that last over few balls is everything that is right and wrong with Zak. He smokes two drives to the fence like a total boss, but neither ball is anywhere near in the slot to be driving. Picture postcard shots, but its not hard to see why hes been out 11 times since he was recalled to that exact shot.

India getting into desperate mode. Need a wicket

[Arthur Crabtree]

Rare 100 opening stand, in 20 overs!

[sussexpob]

Bumrah ends Crawley just short of 50...much better from Zak on a personal level, and a great start for the team

[sussexpob]

Pope gets a duck, bumrah again...first ball after tea. India very much back in it

[sussexpob]

And Lees...

3 wickets for 1 run.

Over to super Jonny

[Arthur Crabtree]

3 wickets for two runs. A mere flesh wound.

[sussexpob]

Bairstow gets his customary slice of luck, as vihari let's a catch slip through his fingers from an edge

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hundred partnership after a mini-collapse. Game about level, if it wasn't for England making a habit of ripping up these kinds of challenges.

[sussexpob]

Very much on at the moment.

[bigfluffylemon]

We shouldn't be chasing this. Surely we can't have the same script four times in a row?

That said, we should never have let India get so many in the first innings anyway...

[yuppie]

If England win this..... has any team ever chased down 4 x 300 run in a row? would be crazy.

[Durhamfootman]

Rare 100 opening stand, in 20 overs!

fastest England opening stand in tests, seemingly

[Durhamfootman]

As for the state of the game : well looks as if some solid sensible Test style batting has enabled India to turn that healthy first innings lead into something approaching "can't lose from here".

well you say that

For all 378 would be the 9th highest successful run chase in history, England are probably favourites atm. India need to take 3 very early wickets tomorrow to have any hope of saving the match.

Honest Joe and Young Jonny Bradman are showing the value of the Lees/Crawley opening stand. Now that the ball is as flat as a fart, there's no swing, no seam and the ball isn't particularly turning. I'm tempted to say 'as long as England don't do something rash', but this seems to be the name of the game now