England beat Pakistan by 3 wickets in the first Test at Manchester in a close encounter

[MMHS]

277 then - PAK favourites here, but Poms are not out of the game. It very similar like the Chennai Test of 1999, though on a better wicket, but no Tendulkar for England here. 32 added today - probably the difference.

 

[Ab Fan]

277 to win.

 

[Titan24]

Yasir, the top scorer of the innings.

 

[Mesozoic]

All depends on England's opening partnership. And of course, Pakistan's opening bowlers.

I feel this is going down to the wire.

 

[Yk313]

Rizwan cannot loiter about far behind the stumps for Abbas for too long. Feel like we need to make sure Dom Sibley and Rory Burns feel the heat immediately.

 

[castortroy]

If they had played a bit more sensibly this lead should have been 320.

Just needed 1 decent partnership and we would have batted England out of it completely

 

[DandyFellow]

I think the strategy worked. We scored 32 with those heaves. Great work. The best line of defence is attack.

 

[gibsyhesperis]

277 “should” be out of the reach of most sides batting second on this wicket against the attack we have.
Not sure why I feel anxious....

 

[Yk313]

Light roller being used? What do you guys reckon?

 

[Titan24]

Eng asked for a light roller, probably didnt want to disturb anything on the pitch much.

 

[Hasan123]

Bowlers need to keep their heads. Keep things tight and wickets will come.

 

[ARK Rafay]

32 runs scored in 16 balls today. I would take it. Doesn't matter the balls though

 

[azimiqbal]

Tai lenders did there job , if we can’t defend 270+ we don’t deserve to win

 

[Markhor]

Tail have given us a lift after a bad third session yesterday.

This will take some chasing on a turning surface. Pakistan must find their lengths quickly and put England under early pressure.

 

[neonoir]

277 on this pitch should be a difficult for any team, Stokes and Pope are the key men need to get them early

 

[GLORY OF '92]

Sunny weather new ball might not be as deadly. Yasir I feel needs a 5fer.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

England is not gonna score more than 200.

 

[sindhiboy]

Monumental effort required from England

 

[DandyFellow]

There are no ifs and buts in life and if they are they are on both sides. Imagine that in Pakistan's first innings when they dropped Shan. In third innings if Root had not bowled Bess. Alot of ifs and buts for them too actually more.

 

[ManFan]

Ben Stokes will fail again.

 

[Titan24]

Azhar should use Shadab slightly early and better in this innings.

 

[QalandarFan]

Yasir will rip through the middle order just need a similar start from Abbas and Shaheen with the new ball.

 

[uberkoen]

There are no ifs and buts in life and if they are they are on both sides. Imagine that in Pakistan's first innings when they dropped Shan. In third innings if Root had not bowled Bess. Alot of ifs and buts for them too actually more.

What’s your point man?

 

[Titan24]

Pacers ideally need 2 wickets in first 10-15 overs and spinners will put in a lot of pressure.

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

As much as i like Pakistans batring this morning. They cud have made it better by ow swinging at every bowl. If Yasir Shah Stayed for a few more overs lead would have gone upto 300. Now that wud have really sent a few shockeaves3in the England dressing room. Thing is with out batsmen once they swing they dont stop. Anyways 277 Is more than England expected and by Pakistan body language seems they are happy with that. So lets hope Abbas And Shaheen can Nip a few quick ones out and sent panic in the England batting order.

 

[Markhor]

Reminded of the 2016 Lord's Test.

Got a 1st innings lead but collapsed in the 2nd innings only for Yasir to provide lower order runs. And we won on Day 4 defending 282.

 

[Hasan123]

Sibley and Burns will look to see off the new ball.

 

[Usman Chadda]

If England chase this down, they would have played exceptionally and will deserve the win.

 

[Yk313]

Reminded of the 2016 Lord's Test.

Got a 1st innings lead but collapsed in the 2nd innings only for Yasir to provide lower order runs. And we won on Day 4 defending 282.

First thing I thought of too. Let’s see bro.

 

[sindhiboy]

Last time a team chased a score above 200 against Pakistan was in 2007 by india

 

[Titan24]

Yasir putting in few balls quickly before match, just like students looking at the books last minute before the exam. Lol

 

[ahmed16]

key man for me is Pope, looked the best out of Englands batting line up. Get Pope and Stokes early and where in with a good shout.

 

[Titan24]

If England chase this down, they would have played exceptionally and will deserve the win.

Agreed.

 

[Robert]

Pakistan have got this, 276 would be too many even for the Strauss outfit to chase down, let along these guys.

 

[sindhiboy]

Burns and Sibley need to put on a 100 run partnership

 

[Hasan123]

This game would have been even better with a crowd.

 

[King_Kohli]

Highest successful chase at Manchester is 294 by England against NZ in 2008.

 

[Bewal Express]

Pacers have to be aggressive and strike to help the spinners attack the middle order.

 

[Yk313]

Pakistan have got this, 276 would be too many even for the Strauss outfit to chase down, let along these guys.

Discipline, captaincy and catches bro. Hope we do it.

 

[Thomaskutty]

This crowd humm gives a great colosseum feel despite the empty stands. Great innovation by Sky.

 

[Ellipsism]

Shaheen’s been a bit down on pace this game.

 

[sweep_shot]

This game should be over by today (no matter who win).

 

[Titan24]

Good start from Shaheen, lengths are good.

 

[Invincible Gujjar]

Just need to keep things tight wickets will come.

 

[pratiktc]

New ball spells critical. Match very much with Pak right now but If Eng get a decent 50+ opening partnership confidence will grow

 

[QalandarFan]

Abbas on point straight away.

 

[Amirforpresident]

I think Shaheen needed to be a bit fuller

 

[Yk313]

Let’s see where Rizwan is for Abbas. Aah man, come on knock one over to get things off the mark.

 

[castortroy]

Sibley has to be one of the most unattractive batsmen in world cricket

 

[uberkoen]

We need a scientific study conducted about the effects that OIIIIIII HAYE HAYE HAYE HAYE HAYE has on a batsman’s psyche.

 

[Hasan123]

Good start by both sides.

 

[Yk313]

Cannot expect a replication of 12-3 at all. Both of these guys batting for their reputation and under strict directives.

 

[Yk313]

According to Sky Sibley was in his crease in 1st innings (pinned LBW). Standing out now.

 

[uberkoen]

How long til Rizwan comes up to the stumps for Abbas?

 

[castortroy]

Akram such an annoying commie

 

[Thomaskutty]

We need a scientific study conducted about the effects that OIIIIIII HAYE HAYE HAYE HAYE HAYE has on a batsman’s psyche.

It doesn't sound intimidating at all lol. They need to annoy the batz by getting a bit personal.

 

[castortroy]

Needs to stop bowling so many no ball's

It will cost them a wicket

 

[Yk313]

Nasser saying drop and run is ENG’s plan. Makes sense I guess. On the other hand, Wasim opens his comm day with Salam. Haha like it.

 

[Ahmed216]

Inexperienced shaheen

 

[Hasan123]

No need to panic . Hope the bowlers don't panic if they don't get early wickets.

 

[uberkoen]

I reckon Shaheen could add an extra 3mph through aerodynamic savings if he cut off his 6 foot tall barnet

 

[PakPremi]

Yasir Shah innings here is probably more vital than Shadab 45 in the first innings. Yasir also did his job with the ball.

Specialists over fake all rounders every single day of the week.

Shadab inning changed the match momentum in Pak favour. And not forgetting his two wickets as well.

 

[Yk313]

Still good carry. I guess keep it straighter to Burns.

 

[Omer2002]

No seam...no swing...yasir needs to come on and see what can be done

 

[castortroy]

Poor fielding there

 

[ARK Rafay]

Pitch doesn't look that bad to bat on.

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Congrats Pak!

 

[uberkoen]

Ball not swinging as much for the boys today? I seem to recall Shaheen making the ball perform bloody S curves in the first innings. Something to do with the clear skies?

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Pakistan definitely need early wkts to win the game. Pitch doesnt seem to be as bad as They wer predicting for day 4 tbh.

 

[Ahmed216]

No seam...no swing...yasir needs to come on and see what can be done

Reverse swing usually does more damage in fourth innings than conventional swing. Lets see..

 

[DandyFellow]

What’s your point man?

Sorry I was replying to the poster who posted about ifs and buts. I forgot to quote the poster.

 

[castortroy]

Pitch looks flat, did so also during pak innings

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Clear skies always help the batsmen. Needed some cloud cover to assist thr bowlers and make bowl swing. .

 

[Hasan123]

Abbas is so good in these conditions.

 

[Smudger]

I think naseem will suprise everyone and will wreck hovac

 

[Mueez]

I think naseem will suprise everyone and will wreck hovac

I agree.

 

[castortroy]

Pak batsmen threw their wickets away. England didn't really bowl that well.

277 in 2 days is definitely achievable

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Pakistan got wat they wanted with the bat today. Now need to carry that momentum onto the field with some tight and sharp bowling and fielding.

 

[castortroy]

Another midfield

 

[Hasan123]

2 sloppy bits of fielding. Not good enough.