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@TimdeLisle perhaps Jessica Ennis-Hill, who can do any athletic sport, could become spinner and middle-order bat?
So England pay the price for their decision to bat on the first day, and for their exaggerated loyalty to the underperforming Hales and Vince. To update a stat from the 23rd over, Root and the equally breezy Bairstow have a joint score of 53-1 off 65 balls. The rest, including an understandably weary Cook, have scraped 23-3 off 124 balls.
Now England are staring down the barrel of a 2-2 series, which is curiously rare. The only ones I can remember are 1991, when Graham Gooch’s team finally managed not to lose to Viv Richards’s world-beaters, and 1972, when nothing could separate Ian Chappell’s youthful Aussies and Raymond Illingworth’s wily old gents. Basically, 2-2 is a sure sign of a cracking series. And with Bairstow and Ballance still there, and the in-form Moeen and Woakes to come, England can still, just, dream of a great escape, even at minus 126-4. Thanks for reading in the face of some hot sporting competition.
31st over: England 88-4 (Ballance 4, Bairstow 14) Even Iftikhar bowls a maiden now, and that’s stumps. The day belongs to Younus Khan with his immense 218 and Yasir Shah with 3-15 in no time. Two great comebacks for the price of one.
30th over: England 88-4 (Ballance 4, Bairstow 14) Bairstow keeps the demon Yasir at bay with some feisty forward-defensives. A maiden.
@TimdeLisle May be my imagination, but Root seems to be ageing before my eyes in this innings. Getting haggard lines on face.
29th over: England 88-4 (Ballance 4, Bairstow 14) Iftikhar is on to bowl some off-breaks into the long shadows. Shrewd captaincy from Misbah, as Iftikhar has had a ’mare so far – out for four to a poor shot, and two overs for 12.
28th over: England 87-4 (Ballance 4, Bairstow 13) Fearless as ever, Bairstow square-drives Yasir for four. Not sure about this one but thank you, Luke: in the age of social media, flattery may get you somewhere.
@TimdeLisle cracking journalism. In Turkey, beer in hand, no TV. Atmosphere in live updates, genius Tim. #startthecar
27th over: England 82-4 (Ballance 4, Bairstow 8) Bairstow glides Amir for four to third man and pushes him straight for three. He’s in great form and England do have a near-reversible batting order, with far more heft at six-seven-eight than at two-four-five, but turning this round will take a superhuman effort. Apologies to Joe Root: between us, Nasser and I may have stitched him up something terrible.
26th over: England 75-4 (Ballance 4, Bairstow 1) So even Root nods. Yasir isn’t even turning it much: Root just played inside a straight one. With him, you suspect, go England’s faint hopes of winning this series. Jonny Bairstow, busy as ever but surely weary, pushes his first ball for a single.
Root has to go, so his counter attack turns out to be just a cameo. England are 74-4 and Yasir, Mr All or Nothing, has 3 for 9.
Root! Given LBW to the rampant Yasir
25th over: England 74-3 (Root 39, Ballance 4) Root eases another couple through the covers off Amir, who is coming round the wicket and looking to reverse it away. That takes Root to 4000 Test runs, the fourth-youngest man to do it. “Superstar he’s gonna be,” says Nasser, turning into Yoda. Superstar he already is. But then, to prove he’s human, Root misses one ball and edges another short of the slips. It goes for four, and he adds a brisk single to midwicket. His confidence is so high, it just bounces back after a misjudgment.
24th over: England 67-3 (Root 32, Ballance 4) Another cover push from Root off Yasir, and some more dogged defence from Ballance, who is trying to get forward and sniff the leather.
And you have to suspect that is it, for a while at least, for James Vince. Not quite up to the mark at this level. #ENGvPAK
23rd over: England 66-3 (Root 31, Ballance 4) Things are now so bad for England that Root plays a false shot, wafting at Amir. He recovers with a businesslike push into the covers for a single. His personal score in this innings is 31-0 off 34 balls; the rest of England’s top order have 23-3 off 106. They can’t go on like this.
22nd over: England 65-3 (Root 30, Ballance 4) England get through an over from Yasir without losing a wicket, but only just. The ball that produces the review goes for four leg byes, and then each batsman takes a single. Correction: the review ball hit Ballance on the front leg as well as the back, which is what saved him. His guard must be Two, please, Ump.
Umpire’s call! Ballance swept and missed and took it on the back leg, but seems to have been saved by getting well forward.
Yasir is on fire, so why not have a big shout for LBW against Ballance?
21st over: England 59-3 (Root 29, Ballance 3) Root again takes a single off the first ball after Misbah summons Amir, who can’t find the line to bother Ballance. Ballance pushes for three; the big test for him will come in a minute, at the other end. Weighed down by that big deficit, England have begun the third innings as if it was the last – which it may be.
What Yasir Khan has done to Alex Hales in this match - https://t.co/ispZOROxNk@TimdeLisle
20th over: England 55-3 (Root 28, Ballance 0) Root takes a single from the first ball of the over, showing a lot of faith in Vince, which is not repaid alas. Yasir beats him with some drift, then tempts him into a loose cover-drive – Vince’s signature shot. Misbah accepts the gift at short extra. Yasir has 2 for 6 off 10 balls, and England are tumbling to defeat. “Lovely over,” says Ramiz Raja, with his signature purr.
Vince has gone for a duck, cover-driving, as so often, and England are 55-3. Two for Yasir, a man reborn.
19th over: England 54-2 (Root 27, Vince 0) Root pulls Sohail for four and whips him for a single. In this short innings, he has been batting on another plane, above Cook and way above Hales. Someone needs to join him there: is it going to be James Vince, who has just rolled in from the last-chance saloon?
18th over: England 49-2 (Root 22, Vince 0) Yasir opens bathetically with a long hop, which Root pulls for four, and another, which he slaps for one. But Yasir finds his length for Hales, his old adversary from Thursday, and pins him in front. “A bad shot,” says Mike Atherton, “and a bad review.”
Hales has to go – LBW Yasir 12, and England are 49-2
It’s the Hales and Yasir show – again... Appeal for LBW, given, and it looks out
17th over: England 44-1 (Hales 12, Root 17) Root picks up another two and a one off Sohail with a tuck and a poke. And Yasir Shah is bouncing towards the crease.
16th over: England 41-1 (Hales 12, Root 14) Hales finally breaks his run of dots, after half an hour, with a square drive for four off Wahab. David Gower thinks he wasn’t quite out to the pitch of it, but it’s still a bottle of water for a man in the desert.
An email from Richard White, picking up on my musing about whether part of the problem with Cook’s partners could be Cook himself. “Interesting thought - when Cook goes early, do his partners score better? And now a good opportunity for Hales to demonstrate the truth of your theory, no Cook and Root a good guy to share with so no excuse not to post a big score :-) Other factors might come into play tho!”
Pakistan still well on top, but Joe Root champing at the counter
15th over: England 36-1 (Hales 8, Root 13) Sohail continues, and so does the pattern: Root takes an easy single, Hales grinds out some dots. A man picked as a dasher now has 8 off 44 balls.
@garynaylor999@TimdeLisle Never thought I'd say this, but I'm with Scyld. Eng are the home team after all, in an era of home dominance.
14th over: England 35-1 (Hales 8, Root 12) A couple of no-balls as Wahab oversteps with his Achilles heel. And then he gets a warning from Umpire Oxenford for running on the pitch, which is fair but harsh. Hales is still tied down, but still there.
13th over: England 33-1 (Hales 8, Root 12) Sohail returns at the other end and Root welcomes him with a slap – for four, to the point boundary, and then two, likewise. He has 12 from 13 balls, Hales 8 from 31. Cook, who has been so positive in this series, couldn’t keep that up today after his long spell in the field. No such problem for Root. Or for Naylor.
Whatever happens in the rest of this match, Eng should be very proud of what they have achieved, outside Lord's, in this series @TimdeLisle
12th over: England 27-1 (Hales 8, Root 6) Root takes a single off Wahab in his role as the man to bring fluency to this rearguard.
An email from Dan Lucas, of this parish. “Hales under pressure,” he notes. “Haseeb Hameed has just scored his third FC century of the season at Old Trafford against Yorkshire. People speaking very highly of him.” Gary Naylor spotted it too, but sometimes we teachers have to see the hand raised at the front of the class and simply ignore it.
11th over: England 26-1 (Hales 8, Root 5) Joe Root sets sail smoothly, with an elegant cover push for two, a clip to leg for another two, and a checked cover drive for a single. He’s either going to get a hundred or fall prey to the curse.
Whatever happens in the rest of this match, Pakistan should be very proud of what they have achieved - outside Old Trafford - in this series
10th over: England 21-1 (Hales 8, Root 0) Cook, the wicket Pakistan wanted most, is theirs, as Wahab’s extra pace makes the difference. Cook finishes the series with 423 runs at an average of 60, which is very good but could perhaps have been even better. Now it’s down to the rest of them to dig England out of this.
Cook goes for 7, edging Wahab to Iftikhar at first slip. England 14-1 and wobbling.
9th over: England 9-0 (Cook 3, Hales 6) Amir to Cook, who edges a beauty short of first slip and then plays and misses at the next ball. Amir continues to be unlucky, but the England openers have done well to keep their edges down on this sporty pitch. Cook hooks for a single, and gets up the other end for the first time in five overs as Wahab Riaz gets the call.
8th over: England 8-0 (Cook 2, Hales 6) Another inside edge from Hales, another flicker of frustration from Sohail. And another maiden: tidy stuff from the Pakistan quicks, who have tightened their belts after blowing their inheritance at Edgbaston.
7th over: England 8-0 (Cook 2, Hales 6) Amir beats Cook, jagging the new ball towards the cordon. And word arrives from Gary Naylor, who, like your wi-fi, is always on. He’d like to show you this:
Want to come down tomorrow or Monday? DETAILS on how here. Still tickets for both days: https://t.co/GIIFZ8rxjSpic.twitter.com/CmbiovKgLj
6th over: England 8-0 (Cook 2, Hales 6) Sohail has half an appeal against Hales, for LBW, but there was a big inside edge. One day, when the wickets are too flat and the scores too big, it may occur to cricket’s legislators to close that loophole. Hales then pushes nicely into the covers for a couple. The first question for Misbah is going to be when to bring on Yasir Shah, whose match-winning haul at Lord’s is a distant memory.
5th over: England 6-0 (Cook 2, Hales 4) Amir still too wide to Cook, who is far too experienced to fall for something on fifth stump. His 2 has already occupied 20 balls.
4th over: England 6-0 (Cook 2, Hales 4) Cook keeps Sohail out and picks up a single to long leg. I wonder if part of the problem with all Cook’s partners could, just conceivably, be Cook. Not to be harsh on him, but he tends to stay in his own bubble. And he got so used to being the junior partner with Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss...
3rd over: England 5-0 (Cook 1, Hales 4) Cook gets England under way with a straight push for a single. Hales grasps at air again as Amir greets him with the one that goes across his bows. Hales responds with a crisp clip off his toes for four: much better. Sky dish up a graphic saying that England have dropped 15 catches in the series, to Pakistan’s 11.
2nd over: England 0-0 (Cook 0, Hales 0) Sohail Khan to Alex Hales, who needs a score after becoming the umpteenth opener of the Cook era to get a few but not enough. He starts shakily, playing at thin air as Sohail gets some classic shape away, and then edging six inches short of fourth slip. If he can get through these first few overs, Hales should do a David Warner and play his natural game.
1st over: England 0-0 (Cook 0, Hales 0) Mohammad Amir, fresh from his mini-triumph with the bat, takes the new ball but aims it too wide of off stump. Alastair Cook is not for tempting until the fifth ball, when he plays and misses.
Hello again, hello, and thanks Vish. So Pakistan are all out for 542. Their mission today was not just to repeat the last Test. Younus Khan chose to accept it, and made sure, just like with his own score, that a lead of 100 turned into 200. With Mohammad Amir adding a Test-best 39 not out, the lead stands at 214. And England, who started this match with hopes of going to No.1 in the world, now have to avoid an innings defeat.
Right, that’s it from me. Go well OBO and England. Tim de Lisle will be with you in the next few moments...
146th over: Pakistan 542 (Amir 39) “Bowl at the f****** stumps!” shouts a punter, just after Finn runs in and bowls a short delivery left by Sohail Khan. The very next delivery is slashed over first slip. The next is dinked to Broad at midwicket who takes a tamer version of the catch he took yesterday, also off Finn. Pakistan lead by 214 runs...
145th over: Pakistan 540-9 (Amir 38, Sohail 1) Given the strike by Amir early, Sohail Khan decides he’s had enough with ducking and plays an extravagant yet safe hook shot towards the man out on the leg side fence. Wondrous.
144th over: Pakistan 538-9 (Amir 37, Sohail 0) Real class from Mo Amir. Root tosses one up and, just as he has done throughout this innings, Amir gets to the pitch, head over the ball, and times it through cover for four.
143rd over: Pakistan 531-9 (Amir 30, Sohail 0) Anderson gets the breakthrough and the Oval rises, after cheering the TV umpire replays, to salute a monstrous knock.
WICKET! Standing ovation for Younis, lbw to Anderson for 218. Pakistan 531-9 on SS2 https://t.co/yrwiFSetadpic.twitter.com/6nwBagE8Nt
And so ends a sensational knock. Anderson gets one full and on the pads – slight bit of away swing but not enough to really clatter leg stump. The on-field decision is out, the impact on pad and stump are marginal. Upheld.
142nd over: Pakistan 531-8 (Younus 218, Amir 30) Mo Amir cuts Joe Root – yeah, why not, give them all a go – for four, just beyond the dive of Chris Woakes at backward point.
141st over: Pakistan 527-8 (Younus 218, Amir 26) Two runs. You only got two runs. You only got two runs. You only got two runs.
140th over: Pakistan 525-8 (Younus 217, Amir 25) Field in for Amir, field out for Younus. Rinse and repeat. Finn sends another unplayable bouncer through the batsman and the keeper. Then Younus Khan hits him on the up inside mid off and, for that fleeting moment, everything was right with the world. What a shot that was.
There’s only one bowler who can get England out of this mess… #ENGvPAKpic.twitter.com/RIV284q3SL
139th over: Pakistan 515-8 (Younus 212, Amir 24) James Anderson is on to bowl for the first time since 11:52am. In that time, England have conceded 140 (thanks Gary Naylor). Anderson is wicket to wicket, the slips are out, there are two midwickets and a catching cover. Just as the crowd started to really get behind Anderson, Younus drives him down the ground for four.
138th over: Pakistan 509-8 (Younus 206, Amir 24) Finn tries for something greater and ends up conceding a wide over Amir’s head. He tries to get angry at Amir. Amir’s not bothered.
137th over: Pakistan 508-8 (Younus 206, Amir 24) Handy exchange of singles between Younus and Amir. England still attacking Amir with slips and gullies, but nothing coming of it. At all.
136th over: Pakistan 505-8 (Younus 205, Amir 22) Amir does very well to absorb Finn’s pressure – ducking and swaying out of the way of a bouncer that threatens his chops – and then punch him through a vacant mid on for three. Finn thinks about chasing it himself, but realises that’s just poor form.
135th over: Pakistan 501-8 (Younus, 204, Amir 19) An edge beyond third slip takes Pakistan to 500. There’s polite applause from most of the ground, with hoots and hollers from the various pockets of Pakistan fans in the OCS and Peter May stand. On the field, England look at their wits end.
134th over: Pakistan 497-8 (Younus 204, Amir 15) Afternoon all. Steven Finn into the attack just as the sun breaks through to the clouds to see what all the fuss is about. Younus’ innings has just ticked over 500 minutes. Finn gets a good deal of lift through to... actually no, just straight through Bairstow for four. Finger tips over the bar.
Anderson has not bowled since the score was 369-6 @TimdeLisle
The first hour belongs to Younus, and he’s not finished yet. Time for Vish to resume – see you later.
133rd over: Pakistan 491-8 (Younus 203, Amir 14). Woakes is good enough to beat the bat of a man with 202 to his name, producing a nice jag off the seam. But when Younus takes a single, Amir gets two streaky fours, through backward point and then fourth slip, so that’s the 50 partnership. Meanwhile...
Related: Mark Wood and Ben Duckett in contention for England one-day squad
132nd over: Pakistan 482-8 (Younus 202, Amir 6). A gorgeous two from Younus, who spots a big gap at midwicket and caresses a little push into it to keep the strike. He celebrates by thumping Moeen for a straight six to reach his sixth double hundred in Tests, just when it looked as if his career was drawing itchily to a close. Amir, out of nowhere, joins the fun with a slog for six of his own. The lead is 154.
Brought up with a six off Moeen (who did the same thing), a big swing into deepest Kennington. Younus kisses the turf. Pakistan 475-8.
131st over: Pakistan 467-8 (Younus 193, Amir 0). Woakes restricts Younus to a straight push for a single. And just when I was wondering if every single OBO reader had been pinched by the Olympics, a tweet arrives. From a minister in Her Majesty’s government.
@TimdeLisle "I have seen the future and it Woakes." Aaaaarrgggghhhh... https://t.co/dadiSzj3z3
130th over: Pakistan 466-8 (Younus 192, Amir 0). Younus tonks Moeen for another six, not so much a slog-sweep as a mow-drag, but it works. He’s added 32 while Amir has been stuck on nought. With 2-113, Moeen has now conceded even more runs in this match than he has made.
129th over: Pakistan 459-8 (Younus 185, Amir 0). Broad finally takes his sunglasses and Woakes comes on, but not even his golden arm can whip up a wicket. Just a single to Younus. In more dramatic news, Leicester City have lost. To Hull, who were no-hopers about two hours ago. Cinderella 2 has started with a twist.
128th over: Pakistan 458-8 (Younus 184, Amir 0). Moeen finds some flight and turn to induce a rush of blood from Amir, but he misses it. Then he gets away with a Harrow slog. A maiden for Moeen, and a big hand for the groundsman: this has been such a good pitch, offering pace, bounce, movement, and plenty of runs for those prepared to choose their moment.
127th over: Pakistan 458-8 (Younus 184, Amir 0). Broad is still on, which seems curious. Younus sees a small gap in the covers and drives majestically through it in a blatant bid for shot of the day. He adds a wristy flick for a well-run two, before Broad pegs him back with a couple of short ones.
126th over: Pakistan 452-8 (Younus 178, Amir 0). Moeen ties Younus down, which is no mean feat. Moeen slyly pulls out of one delivery, anticipating the reverse sweep. Younus smiles that big smile of his and just plays the shot one ball later, for a single.
125th over: Pakistan 451-8 (Younus 177, Amir 0). Cook decides to bring on the new enforcer, Woakes, but the old enforcer, Broad, is having none of it and demands one more over. A misfield by Joe Root at short fine leg brings another single to Younus and another pantomime scowl to Broad’s face. “Ooh,” says David Lloyd, “on the tickometer, he’s off the scale.”
124th over: Pakistan 450-8 (Younus 176, Amir 0). Younus reverse-sweeps Moeen for four, squeezing it past slip. Next ball, he comes down the track and lofts him for six. This is already Pakistan’s highest individual score of the series and he’s hungry for more. An orthodox sweep brings up the 450. In the Sky commentary box, a tousled head appears: it’s Ed Sheeran.
123rd over: Pakistan 439-8 (Younus 165, Amir 0). What will Younus do now? Edge Broad for four – Cook sacrificed his second slip and paid the price. He adds a single, off the third ball, so we have an answer to the other question too. He does have some faith in Mohammad Amir.
Not often that you can praise Pakistan's selectors' conservatism, but lots of pundits and twitterers wanted Younus dropped @TimdeLisle
122nd over: Pakistan 434-8 (Younus 160, Amir 0). Moeen gets lucky as Wahab goes for a walk and misses a non-turner. Bairstow gets lucky as he drops the ball but it bounces back onto the stumps. Younus didn’t bother protecting Wahab; what will he do now?
Wahab st Bairstow b Ali 4. Bairstow fumbled but got away with it, and Pakistan are 434-8.
Wahab is stumped by Bairstow off Moeen, but Younus thinks it needs reviewing...
Wahab edges Moeen, and Cook at slip can’t hold on. It was low but not that hard. Yet another fumble from England.
121st over: Pakistan 432-7 (Younus 159, Wahab 3). Broad keeps Younus quiet until he tries another bouncer, which yields another pull for four, streakier this time. A sweet diving stop at gully by Root saves four more as Younus plays a sort of late drive. The lead is into three figures now, not that it did Pakistan much good at Edgbaston.
120th over: Pakistan 428-7 (Younus 155, Wahab 3). Root, straining for another leg-break, offers Younus a full toss, which is swatted for one. Wahab, who seems comfortable, pushes a single and Younus picks up another one – though not before Root almost yorks him. Good call from Cook to give Root a go.
119th over: Pakistan 425-7 (Younus 153, Wahab 2). It’s Broad at the other end, so Root wasn’t just brought on to avoid questions of bad light. Mind you, Broad starts with medium-pace cutters. After pinching the strike, Wahab gets off it again easily enough with a leg bye. Younus pulls his way to his 150, then gets a crabby edge for a single.
A serene pull for four off Broad takes Younus to 152. He has his eye on an epic.
118th over: Pakistan 419-7 (Younus 148, Wahab 2). Alastair Cook has one of his occasional spasms of ingenuity and opens with Joe Root, who rises to the occasion straight away. He lets Younus have a single and then slips a leg-break and an arm ball in among his gentle offies. Wahab, bamboozled, squirts a single off a leading edge. The lights are on. England in August, eh.
An email from Vivek, whose surname seems to be 334 – not a bad one for a cricket lover. “Is this the start,” he wonders, “of the Younussance?”
For England, the bad news is they took only one wicket this morning (Sarfraz Ahmed for a busy 44). The good news is the wicket went to Chris Woakes, who now has 26 for 400-odd in the series: phenomenal stuff. I have seen the future and it Woakes. He had already sent in his application to succeed Jimmy Anderson; now he’s suggesting he could do Stuart Broad’s job too – pace, bounce, wickets when they are most needed. He just needs to work on the grumpy demeanour.
Afternoon everyone and thanks Vish. Pakistan have one mission here: to stop this being Groundhog Test, in which they are doomed forever to bowl England out for 300, battle their way to a lead of 100, and immediately blow it with some buffet bowling. They have the right agent for the job in Younis Khan, who thinks a hundred only counts when it gets close to 200. He has already done immensely well for someone who had spent most of the series looking like a crab on a hot tin roof. The question is, can the tail-enders stay with him?
117th over: Pakistan 417-7 (Younus 147, Riaz 1) No playing for the interval here. Younus drives Moeen Ali supremely through cover and then sweeps him hard and square for a second boundary. Belting shot, that lost one: wasn’t there, reached for it, flayed the wrists, middled. Just one wicket for England and 77 runs to Pakistan, who go into lunch leading by 89 runs. That’s it from me for the time being – Tim de Lisle will be with you shortly...
116th over: Pakistan 408-7 (Younus 138, Riaz 1) Just one from the over. Younus is happy enough to give Riaz most of the strike in the lead-up to tea. Younus’ on strike for the cursory over of spin before lunch.
Years ago an LBW like that with a batsman on 133* might have provoked a diplomatic incident - neutral umpires and DRS be thanked @Vitu_E
115th over: Pakistan 407-7 (Younus 137, Riaz 1) Riaz looks to be enjoying himself in the most sedate manner. Every leave comes with smile. Every shot for none, whether back to the bowler or to cover, is followed a statuesque pose and a flick of the wrist, as if he’s Indiana Jones recoiling a whip. Maiden, but one of the game’s finest.
114th over: Pakistan 407-7 (Younus 137, Riaz 1) Excellent from Steven Finn and Gary Ballance. The former squares up Younus Khan, who edges through to third man while the latter fields quickly enough to ensure there aren’t an even number of runs to ensure Younus keeps the strike. He has it back a ball later, as Riaz dabs his 12th ball into the leg side to get off the mark. The LBW comes and goes before a good over is ruined by a very short and wide delivery that is carved through the off side for four. Insult, meet injury.
Steven Finn thinks he’s got the prized wicket of Younus Khan, as he traps him on the hop and in his crease. The umpire, after a bit of deliberation, thinks so too. But a review shows that the ball was passing a few inches above the stumps. Overturned.
That Bairstow catch...
WATCH! One handed, diving to his right - well held @jbairstow21. #EngvPakhttps://t.co/kFvuY9N8v0
113rd over: Pakistan 401-7 (Younus 132, Riaz 0) Riaz is less inclined to take on the short ball. Let’s see how long that lasts. He’s driving nicely, though. Even with three slips, a gully and a point, he’s happy to stride out and meet the ball on the up to hit the cover fielder.
112nd over: Pakistan 397-7 (Younus 132, Riaz 0) Younus Khan is prepared to take on the short ball... and round one goes to him. Up at the neck, is Finn, but Younus swings dramatically and pulls away through square leg for four. Did well to keep it down – rolled wrists and everything. Not cricket, but simply had to share this:
You get all the way to "Man it's a hot one" before the next swimmer touches the wall after Ledecky pic.twitter.com/tqKnThascW
111st over: Pakistan 397-7 (Younus 128, Wahab 0) Thar she blows – Woakes ends the 77-run partnership that has taken Pakistan to a lead of 69. Sarfraz is replaced by Wahab Riaz, who can certainly give the ball some humpty. Wicket maiden.
Bairstow's been keeping like a keeper in the last three Tests
Sarfraz has a nibble outside off stump and Bairstow takes a brilliant catch, one-handed to his right. Very sharp, very clean. The first wicket of the day.
110th over: Pakistan 397 (Younus 128, Sarfraz 44)Typical that, the over after I lay into Younus Khan’s straight driving, he unfurls the shot of the morning through wide mid off. Finn finishes the over with a short ball that Younus sniffs at. The pair exchange words before Younus gets his rag out to mop his brow. Even from here it’s looking very off-white.
109th over: Pakistan 390-6 (Younus 122, Sarfraz 44) A proper Younus straight drive, just now: back foot in the air, bat well out in front of him, mistimed, yet somehow racing away to the press box for four. Younus is starting to control the uncontrollables.
108th over: Pakistan 386-6 (Younus 118, Sarfraz 43) Another big cheer from the crowd as the ball shoots through to Bairstow, who palms in the air for Cook, who takes the catch jogging back from first slip. It was the extra bit of lift from Finn that duped the punters. That’s twice they’ve been done today.
107th over: Pakistan 383-6 (Younus 117, Sarfraz 42) Another miscontrolled drive, this time by Sarfraz off Woakes, flies through a vacant gully for a single. Nowt off the straight other than that. By the by, if you want to brush up on overnight goings on in Rio, head over to our Olympic Live Blog.
106th over: Pakistan 381-6 (Younus 116, Sarfraz 40) Short interlude for drinks - won’t name the sponsor, but safe to say that nothing is safe from corporate nonsense. I mean, water! Steven Finn gets his first bowl of the day. He was very sharp yesterday but what’s notable in that over is the late movement away from Younus, who goes through with a drive that is in the air as it passes a diving cover fielder.
105th over: Pakistan 376-6 (Younus 112, Sarfraz 40) Change of bowling – probably a couple of overs overdue, to be fair. Chris Woakes will pick up where he started this morning from the Vauxhall End. Just one from it: a bye that started wide and picked up pace off the deck to shoot through the cordon.
104th over: Pakistan 375-6 (Younus 112, Sarfraz 40) Glorious extra cover drive from Younus Khan. Broad over-pitching and paying the price. When he corrects his length, Younus jabs loosely. Speaking of bats, I’ve just remembered that Mike Hussey used to keep one of the neatest kit bags known to humankind:
103rd over: Pakistan 369-6 (Younus 107, Sarfraz 40) Another four saved by Vince. If he’s going to consistently fall cover-driving then there’s no way he’s letting you get away with it, either.
102nd over: Pakistan 369-6 (Younus 107, Sarfraz 40) One from the over – to Sarfraz, of course.Talk on TMS has turned to “my first bat”. I remember mine fondly: a county bat painted white with a middle that pinged. It was a size five and I ended up using it for far too long. Luckily, I didn’t grow much.
101st over: Pakistan 368-6 (Younus 107, Sarfraz 39) Movement past the bat, as Younus presses forward and misses, fools the crowd into thinking Bairstow has caught a snick through as he tumbles to his right. Good ball, no dice.
100th over: Pakistan 368-6 (Younus 107, Sarfraz 39) Another four for Sarfraz, who ignores the first but smites the second ball of the over through point. There’s nearly a second, too, but for a good stop by James Vince, who dove to his right like a man who knows he’s got to go above and beyond in the field.
99th over: Pakistan 364-6 (Younus 107, Sarfraz 35) Too much outswing and too much width allow Younus to punch through point for four. Aside from one ball in Anderson’s first over that lifted on Younus, nothing has really threatened to break this partnership. Here’s something: this morning Sarfraz Ahmed has hit the first ball of the 93rd, 94th and 98th over for four.
98th over: Pakistan 360-6 (Younus 103, Sarfraz 35) Sarfraz is early on a hook but is saved by the extra bounce which ensures that the glove he gets on the ball is enough for it to balloon over Bairstow for four. Younus gets on strike as Sarfraz guides to third man and immediately a third slip is put in. It was a tactic England pushed last night and nearly came good.
97th over: Pakistan 354-6 (Younus 102, Sarfraz 30) The breeze that helped the ball move in to Younus is allowing Anderson to take the ball away from him. Meanwhile, Sarfraz Ahmed is chilling out at the non-striker’s end. May as well ask 12th man for a book.
96th over: Pakistan 354-6 (Younus 12, Sarfraz 30) Big appeal from Stuart Broad, who has replaced Woakes, and England as the right armer uses the breeze to deck one into Younus Khan. Sliding down leg, though, thanks to the extravagant movement that nearly knocks Younus off his feet. No review.
95th over: Pakistan 350-6 (Younus 101, Sarfraz 27) A maiden, as Younus is scratchy outside off stump. “Any idea why the stumps are bright blue today?” asks Jonathan Wilton. I do. It is because of the Cricket United initiative: they use the Saturday of the Oval Test to raise awareness for their various campaigns and charities that fall under their umbrella by encouraging all who attend to wear something blue. Essentially, it is an attempt to mimic the very successful McGrath Foundation “Pink Day” during the Sydney Test in Australia. You can find out more information about it here.
94th over: Pakistan 350-6 (Younus 101, Sarfraz 27) Another tickle around the corner from Sarfraz gets him four again. Loves bat on ball, does Sarfraz and, playing out to point, we see a sliver of what might bring about his demise. Very open and flowery in the shot.
Some spare tickets on offer for play today, if you’re in the area and fancy watching some Test cricket.
Alex McCarthy has a spare due to a friend dropping out because of a family emergency (email me and I’ll put you two in touch). That’s one up for grabs. Adam Collins, of these and Olympic pages, has another:
In the Peter May Stand, so you'll get to build a beer snake in the arvo & everything. Snap it up. Let's say, 40 quid. Worth more. #ENGvPAK
93rd over: Pakistan 346-6 (Younus 101, Sarfraz 23) Anderson to open from the Vauxhall End, having not been given the first new ball last night. Sarfraz steps to the posh side and plays around the corner for four down to fine leg. “This could be a big day for St Ecgbert’s School, Sheffield, the alma mater of both Joe Root and Jessica Ennis-Hill,” writes Steve Larcombe. “ I’m expecting a century from one and a gold for the other. Of course, this will damn each of them, and us, to a day of disappointment.”
92nd over: Pakistan 341-6 (Younus 101, Sarfraz 18) Just to put this in here, this feels like a three innings day. Granted, I’m basing that on nothing other than a bit of cloud cover and a chill that sees a lot more knitwear in the stands than yesterday. One from the over, bowled by Woakes. We’re off.
John Starbuck swoops in with our first email of the day: “A couple of questions about England possibly holding all the belts i.e. the trophies from all Test series (if they win this game):
“1) Exactly what are all these trophies and do they all live at Lord’s?” Yes, they do. If I remember correctly from a visit to the ECB a couple of years ago
Feel free to email me on vithushan.ehantharajah.casual@theguardian.com, or send your shorter whimsy to@Vitu_E.
Not sure if you caught the masterclass with Curtly Ambrose but, my word, what an utterly terrifying bloke.
@Vitu_E Was the England attack a little blunted yesterday, Vish, or is it just question of Pakistan batting more competently on this track?
Morning all. Let’s talk about Asad Shafiq. Not about whether he’s underrated, which in itself is a very overrated entry point in this discussion. He is very much rated. But let’s discuss what it is to go from the man under the radar to the one with the luminous jacket on the battlefield, like the stag do member who took his goggles off before they left the “No Guns” zone. Because it’s not just England who, after yesterday’s fine hundred - his first away from number six - will know there’s a new don on the block.
However well Younus Khan played - very well, if you’re asking (32 Test tons now!) - Shafiq’s presence at the top of the order shores up a batting card that could go on to some great things. In the short term, that’s amassing a lead of 200, very doable with Younus and Sarfraz Ahmed at the crease.
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