Test 1 - Day 4 - Eng v Pak @ lords (commentary thread) [16/7/06]

[The_Cricket_Devil]

end of that over by afridi, it was a good one with nice drift and turn. 1 run conceded in it

180-4

lead of 263

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

it has been 74 balls since there has been a boundary very good stuff

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

ooo turn and bounce and danish is too good for bell here

 

[MIG]

Afridi fighting it out - cant be easy with a sore thumb

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

superb over from danish. Its a maiden

180-4 there are 23 overs remaining in the day

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

heh and afridi continues to clap for bell as he keeps being on top of bell

 

[off_the_hook]

Need a wicked here.......But good bowling by Afridi and Kaneria.

 

[SameerAhmad]

Man if only we had Akthar right now...

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

good shot from strauss down to fine leg and it is a 4 after over 80 balls

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

ooo it was a leading edge and it was lucky for strauss to land safely

 

[off_the_hook]

4 to strauss.....

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

end of the over

187-4

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

strauss has batted really well today and is on to 92

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

the lead is now 270 it is only a matter of time before an eventual declaration will occur if england plan to go for the win

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

single to strauss with a flick through midwicket moves onto 93

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

u can see that bell is TRYING to be aggresive agnst danish here but he is given no room

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

189-4

lead of 272

 

[off_the_hook]

Things seem to be getting a little to familar....Perhaps a bowling change as suggested earlier is need.

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

overthrow for 4 and strauss goes onto 98 for no reason...

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

there was no need for that as it wasnt even a run out chance

 

[off_the_hook]

Damm 5 runs to Strauss.

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

with a single strauss is onto 99 as his wife watches on nervously

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

afridi urging bell to go for it )

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

bell showing first signs of aggression as he smashes afridi for 4. a nice shot

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

followed by a superb drive for 4 and england are onto 203-4 as bell responds superbly to afridi's nagging

 

[Rob H]

Finally the boundaries come.

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

strauss on strike at 99

 

[Rob H]

Bell is out. Stupid selfish running.

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

could this be a run out!?!? its gone to the 3rd umpire and yes !!!!! BELL IS GONE!!

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

bell has been run out for 28 and england on 203-5 gr8 fielding by inzi with the direct hit

 

[ali_ed2006]

Bell Run Out!

 

[shan]

bell gone

 

[KB]

Stupid run out. Had Strauss been on any other score, they would not have risked it. But because he was on 99, they did.

That is when statistics get in the way

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

just when bell was finally beginning to come into his own he has been needlessly run out. Oh well you won't see me complaining

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

out comes jones

 

[off_the_hook]

good going Inzi a nice breakthough.

 

[Daoud]

Decent pickup and throw from Inzi I must say

 

[shan]

England In great position

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

jones off the mark and strauss back on strike at 99

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

and that is the over. England 204-5 as strauss will have to wait a little longer to try at his 100 agn

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

what a bal!! that was a jaffa and jones looks totally clueless there

 

[shan]

run rate should come down

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

afridi has bowled supremely well here and continues to do so as he is right on top agnst jones.

 

[shan]

get last 5 wickets quickly

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

single for jones as strauss is on strike agn at 99 to face afridi

 

[Rob H]

100 for Strauss. Great innings skipper, leading from the front.

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

and that is his 100 well played sir.

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

strauss has played a very good knock. Led from the front and with a relatively chanceless knock.

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

i wonder if bell clapped when strauss got that 100?

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

and danish continues

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

edged there by jones but nothing risky

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

end of the over 207-5

england lead by 290 runs

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

we should probably bring gul and sami in for a short burst just for a change in pace

 

[shan]

How england want to make before the declare?

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

strauss easily tucking away afridi and danish to square leg and getting singles

 

[MIG]

At current run rate, England will be round 350 by end of the day - is that too high for Pak to get ? Is that too low for England to feel safe and Strauss to declare at ? or will that decision be made for him if England are bowled out ?

 

[ShowStopper]

This match will end in a draw because England won't declare before they have a lead of over 350 and hopefully Pak will be able tobat out the last day.

 

[Tariq Jamshed]

England should be looking to accelerate now. Get the lead up to around 350-375 and then declare

 

[shan]

look like Pakistan gona chace 350 in 90 overs which is unlikely unless our openers give us good start

 

[ShowStopper]

58.1 Shahid Afridi to Jones, no run, crackerjack from Afridi, an absolute beauty – viciously spun legbreak, bounced on Jones and it passes through to Akmal. Corker, that

He spining it well.

 

[kashmiri]

brilliant from Inzamam, swooping like a gazelle on speed !!!!!!

 

[shan]

drinks

 

[ShowStopper]

I think Inzi should give a few over to Gul.

 

[ShowStopper]

This is getting better and better for Yousaf. He is averaging higher than Inzi
Yousaf carrer average 52.03
Inzi Carrer average 51.45

Well done man.

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

farhat is in now to bowl a bit

 

[shan]

why give free runs?

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

appeal for caught behind but it looks like it was a bat on ground situation

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

ooo edged just wide of slip and strauss gets 4

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

why give free runs?

farhat is pretty underrated as a spinner he is quite good

 

[Gunner786]

This is getting better and better for Yousaf. He is averaging higher than Inzi
Yousaf carrer average 52.03
Inzi Carrer average 51.45

Well done man.

and inzi has played twice asmany matches

 

[shan]

can Pakistan play 90 overs in last day?

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

can Pakistan play 90 overs in last day?

why not? however i dont think england will be declaring anytime soon

 

[shan]

300 up

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

haha "the sleeping giant can move" )

 

[Gunner786]

wonder what ranking yousof will be at after this match

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

gul is into the attack now as well

 

[shan]

wonder what ranking yousof will be at after this match

he may beat Dravid and become nº 2

 

[Gunner786]

are you guys watching it on tv or online?
some of you guys posts are way faster than mine

 

[MIG]

Very important last overs for the day - will pretty much decide the fate of this match

Gul to bowl and 14 overs left...

 

[The_Cricket_Devil]

wonder what ranking yousof will be at after this match

not that it is very important but moyo is 16 points behind younis khan who is above him so perhaps he may just be able to sail past him depending on his 2nd innings performance which would make him 6th