Cricket fred

[Galfon]

well done Ireland. Shame it rained tho, would have been a great finish.

Pressure game now Fri v Oz. Losers probs. on their bikes..

[Galfon]

Creamier teams starting to rise to top of Groups now ( Ind, NZ, SA), another mini-shock today with Zim sneaking win over Pak.
Didn't expect so much weather interference.

[Galfon]

Good riposte that by Eng.
Just need win v Sri L on Sat in Sidders, with healthy run rate differential, to sneak through.They'll have the advantage of knowing what's needed after Oz play on Fri..

[Galfon]

Anywinuldoo now v Sri L after less than emphatic win by Oz over Afg. Sri L can't get to semis, so hopefully will have one eye on the boat home..

[Galfon]

Fine last over from Wood, just what was needed.Job arfdun -
142 well in sights as long as they don't think it that way..bish-bash-bosh!

eta - sneaked home with 2 balls to spare.Hales redemption continues; pity about the missing years given his talent.

[Banquo]

Fine last over from Wood, just what was needed.Job arfdun -
142 well in sights as long as they don't think it that way..bish-bash-bosh!

eta - sneaked home with 2 balls to spare.Hales redemption continues; pity about the missing years given his talent.

we look a bit choky atm; I actually think Joe Root would be handy for this team. We don't really have a run acquirer (in relative terms, there isn't much time in these games) to build around- all biffers atm

[Mellsblue]

all biffers atm

Wrong board to discuss England’s backline.

[Galfon]

Turnip for the books - Ned play well and despatch SA, who now go home, leaving way through for Pak after they beat Ban.
Ind already through from that group.
With 2 wins Ned finish 4th. bringing automatic qualification to the next T20. Oranje-boom..

[Galfon]

Eng v Pak final on Sun it is.
Pretty decisive stuff from Buttler & Hales, though Ind poss. held back a bit with the bat.

[fivepointer]

That was brilliant from Butler & Hales. A proper demolition.

[Banquo]

That was brilliant from Butler & Hales. A proper demolition.

wow! although I have doubt as to whether our bowlers can contain pakistan, I think we could chase almost anything down the form those two are in, with Livingston and Stokes to follow.

[Galfon]

Not making it easy - hopefully no wonky wheel on this particular Eng. chariot after the disappointments elsewhere recently.
Good effort by the bowlers.

[Galfon]

Make it a double, Stokes !
Another one in the bag, 1 over to spare in the end.
Good resolve from the team with quite a few hitters at their peak.

[Banquo]

Make it a double, Stokes !
Another one in the bag, 1 over to spare in the end.
Good resolve from the team with quite a few hitters at their peak.

Pakistans bowlers were superb, but Stokes, Curran and Rashid were great. Well done, terrific tournie win after a poor start.

[Banquo]

second team getting absolutely humped in oz. What a stupid idea that was.

[Puja]

Looks like a confidence-boosting pitch (and bowling attack) for the batsmen today. Finished the day 506-4 which is a record for first day's runs in a Test, with 4 centurions including Harry Brook scoring the third fastest English century by doing it in 80 balls.

Not sure anyone's learned too much from the experience, but it's definitely a good and cheering experience for some young batters to have.

Puja

[Galfon]

Most un-England like, but fastest ever to a 500.
The hosts (unlike many )have prepared a generous wicket.
Bravo!

[fivepointer]

That was an incredible days play. The wicket is flat and Pakistan didnt bowl well but to score over 500 in a day is quite some feat.

[Mellsblue]

Four centurions with Root out for a low score. What sort of alternative universe is this?!?!

[Banquo]

That was an incredible days play. The wicket is flat and Pakistan didnt bowl well but to score over 500 in a day is quite some feat.

5th highest runs in a day in tests

[Galfon]

Crawley - fastest hundred by an Eng. opener.
Brook - fastest hundred by Eng. player in overseas Test.
..also fastest team to 400 in a Test innings.
Stokes, Livingstone and Jack to make their contribution..

[Puja]

Tsch! Typical England batting collapse .

Not sure who prepared this pitch and what for. Pakistan might not be scoring as quickly as England, but they don't look in any danger of losing a wicket. The track's clearly not fit for Test cricket.

Puja

[Banquo]

Tsch! Typical England batting collapse .

Not sure who prepared this pitch and what for. Pakistan might not be scoring as quickly as England, but they don't look in any danger of losing a wicket. The track's clearly not fit for Test cricket.

Puja

aye, bit of a downer. BUT at least we approached it in a very very positive way. We probably needed to rack up about 1000 and see what happened (and 1000 + has been done in 1st class cricket twice)

[Banquo]

still be a draw, but they fought hard today.

[Galfon]

Jacks gets best Eng debut figures for 19 yrs with his sixfer, Leach a wee bit ordinary.
Duckett lives up to his name but the charge continues. - it will be an interesting 5 day total, with both sides having the faintest sniff of a positive result.