Aren’t they the biggest chokers in cricket ever since readmission?
I didn’t want to say that, but yeah, there’s that too.
Certainly the WTC is there for SA’s taking.
Good on 'em if they get there. Decades of derision if they stumble.
Certainly a bit wobbly so far. Just creeping along and lost two for 29 in 14 overs.
Markram goes right at the very end, with only 6 to win. 276/5, but an amazing win for South Africa just a short stretch away.
Too good, on the days.
This aged like milk.
Congratulations to South Africa. A great fourth innings performance. I didn’t rate their chances at all when they started.
South Africa have a young team, generally, but it was Markram and Bavuma who’ve pulled this one off.
There’s no asterisk on this win - they worked hard, were behind the curve going into the final innings chasing 280, but a rare 4th innings ton got them to the line, if not quite over it.
It’s the second highest total chased to win at Lords - only 5 times has a team chased over 200 to win.
Congrats to SA. I don’t know why they don’t make the freaking World Test Championship a 5-match series, but it is what it is. I’ve always loved Rabada, so happy for him (despite his suspension possibly costing my IPL team a championship, although the poorly-timed “war” was probably more responsible).
India off to a good start. I was starting to wonder if the highest score by a team after being inserted by the opposition might be under threat (752). But then Gill got out.
“India off to a good start.”
I thought Aussies knew how to make a good understatement !
I thought 700 was a real chance too.
But some rather indolent batting (off an exceptionally high base) has meant the trap door not totally slammed shut. The scenario will test Bazball severely.
After Pant’s review of his LBW dismissal, not playing a shot to a delivery hitting the top of middle stump, the BCCI should revoke his match fee.
Also note that Gil might lose his match fee if the match referee cites him for wearing black socks.
Well I am a Pakistani so there only so far I can go in praise of India.
I can tell you that when I posted a similar message in a WhatsApp group (but before Gill got out) at first I copped some abuse. But now I’m a hero for reverse woofing India spectacularly.
Losing a match after being 400/3 on the second morning would be embarrassing.
It would; but ENG don’t have the batting to do that.
They would need another 300 this innings with only the bowlers to bat and then roll IND for under 150.
Even PAK would struggle to manage that. [d&r]
Which is why we just follow India matches hoping they lose.
I don’t see why if England post even a small lead, they can’t roll India for 250 and chase the target down.
They don’t need to win by an innings. I’m not greedy.
Yes. In US sports commonly expressed as
Q: Who’s your favorite team?
A: Whoever is playing the Texas (or New York) team today.
Brook goes for 99. It’s easy to call it a stupid shot, but it’s what he does, and it comes off a lot. England will be happy if they can get to within 30 runs, and that’s looking pretty likely.
What do India want? 3 quick wickets, obviously, but I think they’d be happy with parity themselves from here. Second innings shootout, but England will have the advantage of knowing what they need.
England will need to bowl much better in the second dig, they were awful first day.
I can live with that, live by sword etc. But doesn’t that also mean that he should forgo the theatrical disappointment act when dismissed “Gee aren’t I so unlucky”, when the bit of bad luck he got was by hitting it to an Indian who can catch?
Also, what’s with the MLB sticker on his bat?
Gil gets growled at for wearing black socks and Brooks is promoting another code?
England par score on bet365 has gone from 404 at lunch to 483 now.
They got 465 thanks to some lower order biffing from Woakes, and India have lost one early!