Pakistan finish Day 3 on 137/8 against England, lead by 244 runs

[sweep_shot]

We were never going to push the advantage with this batting line up.

England will be chasing something in the 200s

Pakistan need to set a target of at least 250. Anything below 250 can be chased down.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Time for legends to show their experience

 

[watson367]

Pak in trouble.

 

[castortroy]

One more wicket and its England game for me

 

[Zeshan547]

In dono k tmama gunah maaf if they can have 100 partnership combined and score even just fifties individually.

 

[Junaids]

With three Number 11’s, Pakistan is effectively 155-6 now.

 

[sindhiboy]

Even if paks aoit for 150, lead should be big enough

 

[sweep_shot]

Two veterans are on the crease. One has played 79 Tests (Azhar) and another has played 75 Tests (Asad).

 

[watson367]

So many years and resources invested in this pair. Lets see what they can do

 

[Major]

this is where azhar and asad have to prove themselves. If they dont, we are gone

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Probably Azhar’s last big chance where the innings relies on him. If he can make this count, it will restore some confidence in him.

 

[Mueez]

Oh man...

 

[castortroy]

Stop playing so negatively

 

[Major]

if both could get a 50, that would be enough

 

[Kroll]

Shadab may still save us yet.

 

[Syed1]

Tum log ne Babar ko Nazar lagadi.... All out for 100 coming up

 

[angrypathan]

this is where azhar and asad have to prove themselves. If they dont, we are gone

If they don't, they should be gone too.

 

[Geordie Ahmed]

Typical of Pakistan, undoing all the good work of the first innings

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Can Shadab Khan save us yet again?

 

[castortroy]

Most teams would take advantage of a 100 lead but not us.

 

[AdamM97]

Most teams would take advantage of a 100 lead but not us.

Let’s not lose hope. The game is still slightly in Pak’s favour.

 

[Fahdi]

He should have either kept it on the ground or should have played it more squarer.

I think he meant to keep it along the ground which is why he didn't go about placing it. There was a problem in the technique that I have seen in quite a few of our players and has been discussed previously by Younis and other ex cricketers. Since the ball doesn't bounce on our local pitches our players play the sweep with a horizontal bat since there isn't much fear of a top edge. Misbah is a bit of an exaggerated example of this. But when there is a bit more bounce on offer you need to really try and get on top of the bounce and make an effort to play along the ground.

 

[pratiktc]

What we could not give for YK type second inns pressure soaking inns right now.
Just need one guy to stand up and make a 70-75 score

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Root making the mistake of his life playing Bess. It will give the two batsmen confidence

 

[Syed1]

He may have also failed but someone like a Fakhar would have been invaluable here. Given a licence to kill he could have smashed a run a ball 50 to regain control of the match.

 

[Zeshan547]

atleast 50 is up, need just another 100, anything more will be bonus, start the count down already.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Time for azhar and asad to perform

 

[sweep_shot]

Lead is worth 158 runs now.

Pakistan are still in alright position. They just need one good partnership.

 

[castortroy]

Let’s not lose hope. The game is still slightly in Pak’s favour.

We should be taking England out of the game with a 350 lead but inevitably going to open the game up for England

 

[shamaan]

Need 250 lead 100 more here

 

[Major]

If they don't, they should be gone too.

problem is, we cannot have both.
The captain isnt performing and the other only scores you a 50ish run and that to comes after one bad innings or two.

 

[Markhor]

Two veterans are on the crease. One has played 79 Tests (Azhar) and another has played 75 Tests (Asad).

And both bat as if it's their debut.

 

[ahmed16]

Need to stop hyping Babar, even Nasser Hussain overdid it with his 'if he was Kohli duh duh duh', give the guy a chance first. Babar is no where near established yet in test cricket, needs some match-winning innings first.

 

[Mueez]

He may have also failed but someone like a Fakhar would have been invaluable here. Given a licence to kill he could have smashed a run a ball 50 to regain control of the match.

True that. Someone who would dare to hit sixes and fours.

 

[Ab Fan]

Why not bring back Archer for a couple of overs more? Bowl some bouncers, push Shafiq backwards and attack them. England must take 2 more wickets by end of day's play. It's not a hard job to get Shafiq out after all.

 

[sindhiboy]

Pitch is getting tough to bat on. Pak have more than enough

 

[AdamM97]

We should be taking England out of the game with a 350 lead but inevitably going to open the game up for England

A lead of 270-290 is still pretty decent for Pak although 350-400 would’ve sealed the deal.

 

[sweep_shot]

Root making the mistake of his life playing Bess. It will give the two batsmen confidence

Root is one of the worst captains in world cricket today. Good batsman but a terrible captain.

 

[Mamoon]

We are ranked 7th for a reason.

 

[castortroy]

Asad is a prime Woakes bunny here

Prodding the bat outside off only to snuck off

 

[MMHS]

Babar had the chance to kill this game in one session. He had 150 on the bank and decided to be in his shell and played an uncharacteristic 5 of 20. In first innings also he was around same mark after 20 balls, but the context was different and he was perfect that time. This is where top players know how to dominate - it’s not about batting skills, which obviously he has enough; but the killer instinct is not there. The best I have seen - Viv Richards; he would have gone after English bowlers and even a quick fire 35, enough to dampen their spirit; rest batsmen would take the target beyond 350.

Still PAK is body length ahead - don’t see Poms our scoring their first innings here in final chase.

 

[angrypathan]

Fourrrr

 

[JibranAnsari]

Pakistan at least need 120 more to challenge england.

 

[Mueez]

Babar had the chance to kill this game in one session. He had 150 on the bank and decided to be in his shell and played an uncharacteristic 5 of 20. In first innings also he was around same mark after 20 balls, but the context was different and he was perfect that time. This is where top players know how to dominate - it’s not about batting skills, which obviously he has enough; but the killer instinct is not there. The best I have seen - Viv Richards; he would have gone after English bowlers and even a quick fire 35, enough to dampen their spirit; rest batsmen would take the target beyond 350.

Still PAK is body length ahead - don’t see Poms our scoring their first innings here in final chase.

Yeah that is one area where Babar Azam needs to work on. How to take on the bowling attack and demoralize them.

 

[castortroy]

Woakes for me is England most dangerous bowler

 

[castortroy]

Both these under a lot of pressure to score

 

[Mueez]

Guys who remembers Younis Khan jumping during the 2016 tour

 

[Zeshan547]

[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] welcome back from the hole, sadly your top ranked Favorite team sucks even more that too at home, so plz keep your hopes in check.

 

[castortroy]

Guys who remembers Younis Khan jumping during the 2016 tour

Lol

 

[PakFan2010]

This is a pressure situation. Asad Shafiq was born for this type of pressure.

Big 100 coming from Asad.

 

[Markhor]

Guys who remembers Younis Khan jumping during the 2016 tour

Honestly I'd take a jumping and dancing Younis Khan over these two. At least with YK even past his prime you always felt he had one big innings per series in him.

 

[Major]

how many overs left for the day?

 

[PakFan2010]

30

 

[Mueez]

how many overs left for the day?

1 hour and 39 minutes to go!

 

[Titan24]

Buttler's keeping has been atrocious. Couldnt catch, couldnt stump and now couldnt even gather a ball from the fielder correctly.

 

[castortroy]

30

Game will be decided by close of play

 

[angrypathan]

Rubbish delivery and put away

 

[Mueez]

Honestly I'd take a jumping and dancing Younis Khan over these two. At least with YK even past his prime you always felt he had one big innings per series in him.

Yep! Younis Khan on his day could win a match on his own. Remember the knock which he played in the last Test match during that series. He could score those big daddy hundreds.

 

[pratiktc]

Captain will score captaincy saving 50
Shafiq will score career saving 50
#FaithInAsLi

 

[Mamoon]

Time to bring the pacers on. Shafiq is feeding on Bess’ pies.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Pakistan have had better of england in the last 10 years , beaten them in uae twice or thrice and have drawn twice in england.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I have a gut feeling this innings will lengthen AA and AS careers for the next year. Stupid from Root not to attack with Archer. You’re feeding spin to subcontinental players.

 

[Amjid Javed]

63/3

Another 130 needed.

 

[Major]

Yep! Younis Khan on his day could win a match on his own. Remember the knock which he played in the last Test match during that series. He could score those big daddy hundreds.

to be honest, by the end of his career, he was not scoring runs. Even before that 100 of his, he was terrible and people were angry until that performancce of his came

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I have a gut feeling this innings will lengthen AA and AS careers for the next year. Stupid from Root not to attack with Archer. You’re feeding spin to subcontinental players.

Feeding mediocre spin *

Subcontinental players whose issues against pace have been ridiculed for 4 days *

 

[Amjid Javed]

Captain will score captaincy saving 50
Shafiq will score career saving 50
#FaithInAsLi

Right now il be happy with 50 from both.

 

[sindhiboy]

Guys who remembers Younis Khan jumping during the 2016 tour

Lol

I actually enjoyed that, was aesthetic for me

 

[Mueez]

Time to bring the pacers on. Shafiq is feeding on Bess’ pies.

You supporting England or Pakistan?

 

[castortroy]

Woakes looking very dangerous here

 

[castortroy]

Game over guys

Woakes the destroyer again

 

[Mamoon]

You have to force mental midget sides like Pakistan in a position where they start doubting if they can win the game and start worrying about protecting their advantage.

England are closing in now. A couple of quick wickets and we could be gifting them the match. There is a long list of matches outside Asia that we have managed to surrender from a similar situation.

 

[JibranAnsari]

The old man departs.

 

[castortroy]

England will be chasing 220

 

[Strike!]

After watching these two all these years, it's a little sad that we didn't produce better cricketers.

 

[AdamM97]

Well there goes El Capitano

 

[watson367]

Trouble

 

[Mueez]

to be honest, by the end of his career, he was not scoring runs. Even before that 100 of his, he was terrible and people were angry until that performancce of his came

Younis had an atrocious tour I remember and then before his hundred Mohd. Azharuddin had called him.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan 63-4

England in the ascendancy?!

 

[castortroy]

Woakes will get 5 minimum here

Fear his bowling the most

 

[watson367]

Mamoon doing bhangra