Cricket 2nd Test Well done to the lads, after Pakistan having a cracking 2 days and we had a dodgy start they've done well to dig in and get us in a really good position, Cant see this match being won but a draw will do if we can then go on ant tie the series by winning the third test. Scores at the end of the 3rd day.... Pakistan first innings Shoaib Malik, c Flintoff b Hoggard...........27 Salman Butt, c Jones b Harmison............26 Younis Khan, Pietersen b Flintoff.............7 Mohammad Yousuf, c&b Bel.....................78 Inzamam-ul-Haq, run out........................109 Shahid Afridi, c Trescothick b Hoggard.....92 Kamran Akmal, c Jones b Giles...............41 Naved-ul-Hasan, b Harmison...................25 Mohammad Sami, c&b Giles....................18 Shoaib Akhtar, c Flintoff b Harmison........12 Danish Kaneria, not out...........................4 Extras......................................................23 Total (all out)...........................................462 England first innings M Trescothick,c Akmal b Sami...................48 A Strauss, b Naved..................................12 M Vaughan, b Naved................................2 I Bell, c Akmal b Afridi...............................115 K Pietersen, c Yousuf b Shoaib.................100 A Flintoff, b Shoaib....................................1 G Jones, lbw b Afridi...............................55 A Giles, not out..........................................23 S Udal, not out...........................................6 Extras .......................................................29 Tota (for 7 wickets)................................... 391
If Giles can hang around, we might get up somewhere near their score. Then, good performance from the bowlers, and we may have something to chase on the final day. Im know im being fairly hopeful, but a result is still possible.
It is but i cant see them being very adventurous, wee ned to bowl really well and be chasing 250-300 on the final day to get a result. If we can get near their score then bowl them out tomorrow id be happy loosing this test if we actually go for a win and try win the match so we can win the series.
Sets things up nicley for a grand finale ! bit gutted all we can do is draw but after the way the wicket looked its a miricle we could play on it at all !
There was a bit of uneven bounce today but thats about it, the wicket has been fine and totally flat all through the match thats why there was that many runs scored, its not a case of it being a bad pitch just it was more of a batting wicket that didnt help the bowlers, But Shoiab and even Flintoff at times proved if you can get the ball in the right areas wickets were there for the taking. Our batting has been poor at times this series especially the first test we gave wickets away and struggled against the spin, Pakistan fully deserve to be 1-0 up in the series tbh they've had some harsh decisions against them aswell. Truth is we havent been upto standard on this tour and a draw will be a brilliant result.
