Pakistan v England Test Match Series

I think I read that Pakistan's 2nd innings was highlighted by a lengthy 8th or 9th wicket stand, which is the kind of slip-up that makes life more difficult than it needs to be. To not reach halfway to what seems a plausible target is a pretty poor show.

^^ The key batsman in those stands was Salman, top scorer in the innings. In pivotal over bowled by Carse 2 chances went to ground the keeper Smith dropped him when he had scored only 4 runs, 2 runs later Root put a catch down. The lead at the time was around 2oo so the target could've been significantly lower.

(18-10-2024 12:26 )Doddle Wrote:  seems a plausible target

I don't think 297 was a plausible target. It always looked like a long shot to me.

I don't think Pakistan's 9th wicket stand made much difference either, as England already needed 232 to win before than stand even began.

England add a 3rd spinner to their starting XI in Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson returns with the Durham Duo Carse & Potts missing out.
Rawalpindi usually favour seam, but Pakistan are trying to achieve a similar surface to the one used in the 2nd Multan Test.
Again artificial methods are being employed, this time by the use of gas heaters & windbreaks in order the trap in the heat.

Pakistan v England 3rd Test - Rawalpindi Day 1 Close
Toss - England elected to bat
England 267 (68.2 overs) Smith 91 Duckett 52 Atkinson 39 Crawley 29 Sajid 6-130 Noman 3-88
Pakistan 73-3 (22 overs)

(24-10-2024 05:44 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Pakistan v England 3rd Test - Rawalpindi Day 2 Close
Toss - England elected to bat
England 267 (68.2 overs) Smith 91 Duckett 52 Atkinson 39 Crawley 29 Sajid 6-130 Noman 3-88
Pakistan 344 (96.4 overs) Saud 134 Sajid 48 no Noman 45 Masood 26 Rizwan 25 Ahmed 4- 66 Bashir 3-129 Atkinson 2-22
England 24-3 (9 overs) Noman 2-9
England trail by 53 runs

(25-10-2024 06:38 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Pakistan v England 3rd Test - Rawalpindi Day 2 Session 3

England 243 (9 overs) Noman 2-9

Bloody hell!

Pakistan again stormed it in the 8th & 9th wicket stands.

It's not England 243, it's worse it's 24/3. We may not get to 243.

Ollie Pope is out for 1..
He could be for the chop

(25-10-2024 20:34 )Doddle Wrote:  

(25-10-2024 06:38 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Pakistan v England 3rd Test - Rawalpindi Day 2 Session 3

England 243 (9 overs) Noman 2-9

Bloody hell!

Pakistan again stormed it in the 8th & 9th wicket stands.

The - key is a little sticky on my keyboard. 24-3

That was maybe wishful thinking, Bazball on steroids.

England are sunk in this game & the series. It is not a matter of if Pakistan can win, just when they win. I expect the match to finish tomorrow

(25-10-2024 20:38 )Charlemagne Wrote:  It's not England 243, it's worse it's 24/3. We may not get to 243.

Ollie Pope is out for 1..
He could be for the chop

Pope has been on a short rope for some time. He has a good innings & then nothing, just disappears for a few matches, he isn't delivering as a No.3 batsman. He's the vice captain, that shouldn't save him.

Worse still is Crawley, Rob Keys adopted son. This is his 50th Test, opening is tough & he's forged a decent partnership with Duckett, which is not far off the best among Test nations, yet an average of 32 is poor, or let's say average no better.