India tour of Eng, June 20 - Aug 4

[bigfluffylemon]

Day 25 of a 5 match series and the result is still in doubt. Quite the series this has been. In this test every time one team looks like taking a stranglehold, the other manages to regain the initiative.

Amazing innings by Root and Brook. You'd think England are favourites from here, but could very easily go either way. Staggering that after 24 days of cricket, there are just 35 runs between a 2-2 and 3-1 result, which are very different.

[alfie]

Another remarkable day in a remarkable series.

England were long odds against - especially after Duckett and Pope fell. But the Yorkshire pair changed that with a mix of dramatic shot making and calm accumulation , so that I started as early as 180/3 to fancy the chase was going to be successful : much as those two similar efforts against India. So many parallels : the sting going out of the bowling ; fielding errors ; and a general impression that India had run out of belief and were just going through the motions in hope. The two previous games had to be weighing on their minds , as many of the same players were on the field at Edgbaston and Headingley.

And then Harry has a brain fade - though to be fair losing his grip on the bat was a bit unlucky. And Bethell shows that he is nowhere near ready to be in the Test side just yet : his dreadful tortured effort serving to embolden India , and probably contributed to Root's eventual loss of concentration. And suddenly India are charging ... Siraj and Krishna bowling hand grenades in the fading light and Smith and Overton hanging on for grim death : I think they were happy to walk off.

The early close may work either way. Rest for the two bowlers ; but reset for the bats and presumably better batting conditions. A new ball : but will it be more dangerous than the ageing one that was going around corners last night ? 35 runs seems a lot easier than 4 wickets. But in these situations nerves will probably be as significant as skill and it only takes a little mistake...

WINVIZ was showing England 80% or something late on ; and I thought that was crazy. I do think England are in a marginally better spot ; but would not be putting serious money on the outcome. Could be an epic finish to a closely fought series in which both teams deserve far more applause for their best efforts than criticism for their imperfections.

[sussexpob]

Overton starts by smashing two boundaries....

[sussexpob]

Meanwhile, Siraj is playing the same beat the bat, don't find the edge game he played all yesterday...

[sussexpob]

Not this time, Siraj gets Smith snicking to Wicketkeeper... HUGE moment.

Ouf, has this just fell to India now?

[sussexpob]

Not sure why we checked this? Clear edge, clear clean catch

[sussexpob]

Is that a drop? My god, I think it just bounced before him but nearly gone first ball....

I think that carried just about, my god that may have been the series and game dropped

[Arthur Crabtree]

Completely unpredictable from here. I usually find though that at least two of the late order chip in.

Disappointing second half of the series for Smith.

[sussexpob]

And then Atkinson skies one... bounces just short of the cover fielder.

Everything is happening

[sussexpob]

Overton underedges a swipe, doesnt carry. England look nervous. Ouf... another flashed past the edge.

EDIT - and another. COme on lads, see out a few before whacking them.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Raining. Going to be heavy cloud until this is over.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Woakes will bat one armed, left handed! If necessary...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Presume they take the new ball. But the ball will go further off the bat...

[sussexpob]

Woakes will bat one armed, left handed! If necessary...

If it gets to that, you literally bowl full tosses at the stumps.

[sussexpob]

OUT.... Overton has gone, it looked out in real time