Not too costly though, Akmal gone to Broad. 216/6, with 4 overs to go.
Worth quoting the Guardian OBO commentary, for the contrast between the two batsmen:
Misbah has patiently built up 53 runs from 143 balls (12 of them from two consecutive deliveries) and may be about to see that hard work wasted if England get into the tail at the other end.
England’s day on balance. Misbah is still there so if Pakistan can creep to 300, it will be game on. The wicket does have some significant turn on it apparently.
That’s no great surprise, Adnan’s first class average is only 23. He’s been over-achieving with the bat in test cricket, he’s been picked because he is a competent keeper, which is very un-Akmal of him.
Misbah’s innings looks even more stereophonic now, he’s made more than a quarter of his runs from 4 of the 168 balls he’s faced. Very effective though.
Definitely England’s day at 256/7, but marred by a couple of missed chances. We have to bat last on this pitch, so even if we bat well we could struggle to get a significant lead.
Adnan reminds me of Kamran Akmal 10 years ago, when Kamran was actually a good keeper who managed to get Moin Khan and Rashid Latif, both certifiable greats, sent off to pasture. It was in 2006 when it started to go down hill when he concentrated too much with the bat.
I only saw glimpse, how did Shafiq bat? I have never had much time for him, but his innings seems to have been a good one.
That should have course said “schizophrenic”. That’ll teach me to accept a spelling correction in Chrome without paying attention.
Only going from OBO and Cricinfo, but he seemed to be doing very well - looking safe but taking opportunities to score when they came - right until he got out trying to sweep, just before the new ball was due. From Cricinfo:
England 48/1 at lunch, 209 behind. Well in a position to take a stranglehold on this test,
The bowlers were clinical this morning. That is a good result after loosing the toss. Now they are 106-1 with Cook and Trott looking very comfortable and nailed-on for 50’s apiece.
there…I’ve said it! The cricket gods can smite me, so help me Boycott.
Now that’s a nice scorecard to wake up to, Pakistan losing their last 3 wickets for no runs this morning. I was worried Misbah would shepherd the tail past 300.
106/1, hopefully Cook and Trott can make this partnership count before we get into our somewhat shaky middle order. KP and Bell only average low 30s on asian pitches, and Morgan isn’t entirely convincing as a test player. I’m expecting Bell mkII to improve that record this year, but not necessarily straight away.
Pakistan have now burnt both their reviews on LBW shouts against Trott. What will be particularly galling is that they had already missed a chance for a successful review when he was in the thirties.
That could be crucial, as I pointed out in the spinners thread they are winning a lot more LBW decisions in the DRS era. It’s not easy going according to the commentary, with some edges not carrying and some balls going past the bat.
132-1 at tea. Cook and Trott haven’t been quite as rock-solid as that suggests, but they are the England pair you would always back to take the game inch by stolid inch away from the opposition. (Stat from OBO - they average 74 together, 5th highest 1000+run England partnership.)
The lads will be enjoying their tea after that. There have been a few appeals but you couldn’t really say Pakistan were applying the pressure too much.
If by COP we can get north of 200 runs with this pair or perhaps another one down then I’ll be a happy bunny. Drag it out, wear the pitch, tire the bowlers and look for us only batting once. The Pakistan batsmen know for sure the England spin or pace attack can hurt them.
A wicketless session for the first time in the series. Agree we’ve got the right players for the job in right now. Quite a way to go with this innings though, we really want at least 350 since we have to bat last, and if we lost a wicket now we could easily lose a couple more.
You had to go and say it, didn’t you!
Trott goes, bowled Rehman for 74. There was a time you’d be happy to see Pietersen come in at 166-2, but right now it’s a slightly nervous prospect.
Well…At least it didn’t happen straight away, I can’t really be blamed.
Come on KP, let’s see whether you’ve woken up or not.
KP gone, and the day is really in the balance here.
This is painful to listen to. Two out of form stroke-makers trying to block out the last few overs…
Ok. I went on a drive with England in command and it seems Ajmal has just blown the match wide open.