2nd Test v. Pakistan

[C C Csiders]

Pakistan have won the toss and will bat. Bugger!

Early prediction is that Pakistan may lose a couple before lunch, but by close will be 300-4

[Museshrimper]

9-2, Farhat and Akmal both gone for 0 and 4 respectively. Excellent start http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[canveyshrimper]

31/2 - Younis Khan & Yousuf batting.
I was surprised to see that Kamran Akmal opened the batting. Let's hope we can get rid of these two and Inzy cheaply.

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ July 27 2006,12:07)]31/2 - Younis Khan & Yousuf batting.
I was surprised to see that Kamran Akmal opened the batting. Let's hope we can get rid of these two and Inzy cheaply.
56/2 now.

It is going to be very hard to shift any of those three, particularly with just 4 bowlers. Hopefully there may be a bit of reverse for Sajjid Mahmood later on, but we will have to rely on short sharp burst from Harmison if we are to have any further success today, I fear.

[Museshrimper]

Monty's just got Yousuf caught behind, big wicket just as the session is drawing to a close.

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (Museshrimper @ July 27 2006,12:52)]Monty's just got Yousuf caught behind, big wicket just as the session is drawing to a close.
Mahoosive wicket. Well done Monty. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Museshrimper]

90-4! Khan gone for 44, caught Collingwood from Harmison's bowling. Superb stuff, we've won the first session for sure.

[C C Csiders]

Magical first session from England, which 10 minutes befiore lunch looked like it was going pear-shaped.

Now, a freshened Harmison, after lunch, can rip into the Pakistan lower-middle order. C'mon.

[canveyshrimper]

Top effort so far by Harmison, geeting rid of Younis & Yousuf before lunch is advantage England.

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

And it's now 98-6 http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

26.5 Panesar to Faisal Iqbal, OUT, and there it is! Brilliant stuff from Panesar. Landed every ball on a sixpence and left the pitch to do the rest. This one jumped and Faisal's attempted cut is steered into Jones' gloves. England are flying

27.1 Harmison to Inzamam-ul-Haq, OUT, That. Is. Massive. Inzamam - he of the nine fifties in a row - is gone for a duck and it was a snorter! Leapt off a length, took the splice and looped to Kevin Pietersen at backward point. Pakistan have lost four wickets in a flash and England are rampant
Inzamam-ul-Haq c Pietersen b Harmison 0 (3b 0x4 0x6) sr: 0.00


Looks like Harmy's up for it

29.5 Harmison to Abdul Razzaq, no run, short again, and fended off the throat, inches wide of Bell at short leg
29.4 Harmison to Abdul Razzaq, no run, sconed him! Vicious from Harmison, leapt from nowhere and clattered straight into helmet. Razzaq is unhurt though and resumes his stance with a grimace


Come on

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

7 down now - what's a "hoon" ??

32.3 Panesar to Shahid Afridi, OUT, and there it is! Flatter and wider outside off stump, and another massive hoon from Afridi. Whirls his bat twice in his followthrough, but it makes no difference as Pietersen at point clings onto the steepler. Pakistan are in tatters!
Shahid Afridi c Pietersen b Panesar 15 (16b 2x4 1x6) sr: 93.75

[MrB]

What odds a 5 for each for Monty and Harmy? http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Museshrimper]

114-8, 5 for Harmison http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[MrB]

In all the hapiness of this I should point out that Essex are getting a severe pounding from bottom of the table Northants (584-4) which could severely dent their promotion hopes http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Museshrimper]

Sales has just gone for 225 http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

Danish Kaneria run out for 0. 119 all out, superb. Now to get 400 minimum.

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

How long before Kaneria is brought on ? I would guess at about 8 overs http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Blimey - Harmison 6-19

Agree 400+ must be the target.

[MrB]

Random stat from Sky Sports:

The score of 119 is the second lowest ever in a test match at Old Trafford, with the lowest being 95 in the first ever Test on the ground in 1884.

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (MrB @ July 27 2006,14:41)]Random stat from Sky Sports:

The score of 119 is the second lowest ever in a test match at Old Trafford, with the lowest being 95 in the first ever Test on the ground in 1884.
Blimey! That is a surprise. This wicket is apparently doing quite a bit, unlike previous OT wickets based on that stat.

300 has to be the first target, and then take it from there.

[MrB]

Quote[/b] (Museshrimper @ July 27 2006,14:31)]Sales has just gone for 225 http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
Our own product Peters made 178 and Klusener is unbeaten on 122. 646-6, god knows what they'll declare on!

[MrB]

1 from 24 balls from Banger! Steady start though, Pakistan seem determined to bump the score up with extras.

[C C Csiders]

Cricket Shot out for 5. He needs a big innings soon.

[Museshrimper]

Northants have declared on 660-5. Hopefully we'll get full batting points and a draw to half-make up for the lack of bowling points http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Museshrimper @ July 27 2006,16:00)]Northants have declared on 660-5. Hopefully we'll get full batting points and a draw to half-make up for the lack of bowling points http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
Only need to get 511 to avoid the follow on. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[canveyshrimper]

England 81/1 - still 28 overs left for the day, so we could have 200 on the board at sumps.

[Museshrimper]

Pettini run out for Essex - not the start we needed there. Strauss also just feathered one behind off Razzaq, and we are 95-2.

[MrB]

Flower G also out, 15-2. Oh dear....

[Museshrimper]

Pietersen gone 3rd ball playing a loose shot. Well caught at gulley, but in doing so the fielder dislocated his finger http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[C C Csiders]

One of Cook, Collingwood or Bell has to make a century here (in Cook's case a century and a biit as he has a 60-odd start) to push us past 400.

[Jonny_Stokes]

It's clearly a 370-380 pitch. Anything in that region will give us a chance. No reason why we can't get there either, as Pieterson only got out due to his own stupidity/aggression, not because of decent bowling.

[canveyshrimper]

224/3 - Cook 85 not out.

A bit slow going but it is only pre lunch on day 2, England just need to be ruthless and pile up the runs.

[BILLERICAY BLUE]

272-3 at lunch, Cook 114 no, Collingwood 40no

[C C Csiders]

400+ should be a formaility from here.

However, two more wickets and Pakistan are in to the tail - starting with Jones. Maybe his good performance with the gauntlets may take some of the pressure off of his batting.

[canveyshrimper]

Should be, Bell has been in good nick as well. Cook does seem to have taken to the test arena with 3 centuries in 7 tests. It will be interesting to see how he fares against the convicts.

Jones has been in great form with the gloves, and I do hope he manages a decent score.

[Hong Kong Blue]

In 7 test matches Cook has already scored more tons than Mark Ramprakrash managed in 50 odd.

Apparently the new ball has been taken, so we need Cook to see it off.

[Bluesmanager]

290-4. Cook 122, Bell 2.

Umpires delay for another new ball.

[C C Csiders]

I sniff a double-century for Cook.

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ July 28 2006,14:31)]I sniff a double-century for Cook.
Better ease your nasal passages, Cook out for 127.

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ July 28 2006,14:44)]
Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ July 28 2006,14:31)]I sniff a double-century for Cook.
Better ease your nasal passages, Cook out for 127.
Oh, I do like a touch of fate-tempting.

I'll try again, Jones will go for single figures, and we will be all out for less than 370.

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ July 28 2006,14:46)]
Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ July 28 2006,14:44)]
Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ July 28 2006,14:31)]I sniff a double-century for Cook.
Better ease your nasal passages, Cook out for 127.
Oh, I do like a touch of fate-tempting.

I'll try again, Jones will go for single figures, and we will be all out for less than 370.
That's more like it we should get 550 in that case. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[C C Csiders]

Jones gorn for 8. Struggling to muster 400 now with a tail longer than a macaque.

[canveyshrimper]

Bugger. We will still have a lead of 200+ and I don't think the nature of the pitch has change. If Harmison bowls in the same way he did yesterday, this could all be over by tomorrow afternoon.

They do not like it up 'em. http://www.shrimperzone.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Bluesmanager]

351-6 - 400 to 450 and I'd be happy.

[C C Csiders]

357-7 at tea. 400 still a way off. Need a typical stoic Hoggy innings of about 6 off 42 balls whilst Bell goes about his business at the other end. Then we could be looking at a 300 lead.

[canveyshrimper]

Or a few lusty blows by Harmison, 400 will be a good effort, and a lead of nearly 300.

Essex are 248/4 - Andy Flower 102 not out, don't want to tempt providence but this should be a draw.

[Bluesmanager]

372-7 - Come on Hoggy, get yourself stuck in the mud. And let Bell do all the work.

[MrB]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ July 28 2006,15:47)]Need a typical stoic Hoggy innings of about 6 off 42 balls
Going a bit quick at the moment!

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (MrB @ July 28 2006,16:32)]
Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ July 28 2006,15:47)]Need a typical stoic Hoggy innings of about 6 off 42 balls
Going a bit quick at the moment!
Hoggy has 5 off 21 including a 4.

[Bluesmanager]

383-7. If we can get 420ish today, weather's going to pack up tommorow, so that'll make the Pakistanis a tad unhappy.

[canveyshrimper]

384/8 - 420 is a good shout a lead of just over 300, and maybe a few overs at them tonight.

[Bluesmanager]

Bell's smashed a lofted drive over long on 6 rows back. 420 ought to do it. Bell on 70 of 96 balls 1 six and 9 fours.

[MrB]

461/9, a great effort and a decent declaration from Strauss to try to snare a wicket or two. Didn't happen but Pakistan now have to effectively bat for three days!

A good day for Essex too, once again we batted well down the order, a superb 165 from Flower A supported well by Irani, Middlebrook and Foster to effectively secure the draw.

[Bluesmanager]

149-4 - Great job Monty! Still 200 odd runs off batting again.