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Post by bandage on Jul 17, 2006 11:01:18 GMT
Cracking end to the first test match between England and Wales and Pakistan in store today. E&W declared this morning leaving Pakistan a tasty target of 380 to win in 80 overs (480 balls). It was a tantalising enough declaration seeing as they didn’t totally bat Pakistan out of the game – they gave them a target they might be attempted to chase rather than an unattainable one where they would merely bat defensively and defend for a draw. The more attacking shots they play the more chance of a wicket – a kind of a risk and reward type scenario. Though just as I type Hoggard has taken one of their openers first ball. They might try bat out for a draw now. 0-1. Still game on.
On another note Ed Joyce made a double century for Middlesex against Warwickshire in his first championship game back after spraining his ankle a month ago against Sri Lanka in the 20/20 game. England and Wales have batted well in this test match and Freddie Flintoff is due back for the second test so he might have to bide his time for a while. An unfortunate time to get an injury but a great statement of intent on his return.
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Post by therock67 on Jul 17, 2006 12:51:59 GMT
43-2 at lunch. Seems Iqbal edged one in the last couple of overs that was caught behind but nobody appealed. Game isn't over by any means but three down would have made a huge difference. Come on Pakistan!
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Post by bandage on Jul 17, 2006 14:16:17 GMT
Monty Panesar takes the crucial wicket of Mohammed Yousef. Still don't think they've enough time to take the remaining 7 wickets but you'll be amazed what final day pressure can do to a team. If they can sneak another 2 before tea then they'll be in with a shout.
Yousef is a very interesting case. Formerly the only non Muslim in the Pakistani team and known as Yousef Youhana, he converted to Islam about 18 months ago as he was inspired watching the team pray together during their tours. His family (Roman Catholics) have disowned him and have not spoken to him since. After his double century in the first innings on Saturday he dedicated the knock to Alla (or is it Allah? My religion's not what it used to be).
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Post by therock67 on Jul 17, 2006 15:21:01 GMT
His average has also gone from 42 to 98 or something since he converted!
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Post by cully on Jul 25, 2006 11:20:49 GMT
laughed out loud at Bandage's ridiculous claim that strauss' declaration was a gamey one. 380 to win in a day would is an outrageous ask even if shahid afridi is in your line up. strauss and geraint jones never increased the tempo on the fourth evening and resultingly had to bat the following day. had strauss not been batting for himself, or a skipper in his first test he may have been more daring, quickened up the scoring and sent the pakis in for a half hour on the sunday evening and then a full day to bowl them out.
Good news about Ed alright, he's hoping he's playing himself into that champions trophy thingy in sept/oct
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Post by bandage on Jul 27, 2006 11:59:28 GMT
380 wasn't totally outrageous considering the depleted England and Wales attack and the likes of Afridi and Yousef in the batting line up. Highly unlikely but not beyond the realms of possibility.
Grievous Bodily Harmison has taken 3 wickets in helping to reduce the Pakistanis to 90-4 on the first morning of the 2nd test with Monty Panesar just taking the crucial wicket of Yousef there. A good morning for England and Wales.
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Post by bandage on Jul 27, 2006 13:07:10 GMT
113-8 now. It's a bitch of a pitch apparently.
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Post by therock67 on Jul 27, 2006 14:09:39 GMT
Ah crap.
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Post by bandage on Jul 27, 2006 15:38:38 GMT
80-1 in reply now. Let's pump these fookers and get back on track for the Ashes.
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Post by therock67 on Jul 27, 2006 16:11:58 GMT
What score did Pakistanislav end up on?
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Post by bandage on Jul 27, 2006 16:15:21 GMT
119ao - 6 for grievous, 3 for the full monty. 105-2 now. Strauss gone, Cook and KP at the crease.
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Post by bandage on Jul 28, 2006 16:31:05 GMT
England and Wales are 440-8 now - over 300 ahead of the tourists. Ian Bell is 94no from 116 balls. What a knock! I was right and Cully was wrong. The kid is about to make his second century in a row. Where is Michael 'Pup' Clarke now? Cully, where is he now? Great 127 from Ally Cook too. This kid will be a massive player for us for years. We're going to defend the Ashes I'm telling you now.
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Post by bandage on Jul 29, 2006 9:56:56 GMT
Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene and their wicket keeper batsman Kumar Sangakarra just broke the world record for a partnership in the first test against South Africa. They put on an amazing 624 runs before Sangakarra was out for 287! Jayawardene is 352 not out and has Lara's individual record of 400 in his sights. They are 711-3 at the moment in reply to South Africa's paltry 169ao. The fact that SA scored so few suggests it not just a pitch made for batsmen - they must have had to work for it.
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Post by bandage on Jul 30, 2006 12:30:44 GMT
Jayawardene was out for 374, a shame for him not to get the record.
A comprehensive thrashing of Pakistan by England and Wales. Great to see Grievous Bodily Harmonstown back in the groove like that - 11 wickets in the match is a cracking haul. Monty Panesar was fantastic too, taking 5 of the top order. Nice to see them going out and getting the job done, it gets boring going on about the injuries all the time. You just have to pick up the slack and get on with it. Hopefully Harmonstown will tour well this winter. With doubts over Fred and Simon Jones they need a fast bowler firing on all cylinders. He'll have to put his chronic homesickness behind him once and for all - apparently he cries on tour all the time. What a big girl!
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Post by cully on Jul 31, 2006 14:14:54 GMT
yeah, time for him to grow up and become the mean fast bowler he should be. if the aussies are worth their salt, there'll be some cracking sledging about him being a girl and pining for home.
the sri lankan story is amazing, some hitting. boje went for 220 in his 60 overs !!
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Post by bandage on Jul 31, 2006 14:18:41 GMT
Any thoughts on the sublime displays of Ian Bell over the first 2 test matches Cully?!!!
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Post by cully on Jul 31, 2006 14:40:05 GMT
he's played well alright, saw him scrape his way to a ton on friday afternoon. in fairness he's done well , probably down to him thinking he's on a hiding to nothing seeing as everybody thinks that when fred is fit , belly will drop out. nice to see him do well but i still hate him for that boring innings he played up in stormont.
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Post by bandage on Aug 4, 2006 15:22:12 GMT
3rd test started this morning. Pietersen is caning the Pakistanis around the place. He’s just got a hundred from 120 balls – 250 for 4 – they’re looking well set for a good total now after being shaky enough at 110-3 at lunch.Can’t wait to watch this over the weekend.
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Post by bandage on Aug 7, 2006 17:33:43 GMT
Smashing day's cricket today. England and Wales were just all out in their 2nd innings for 345 leaving Pakistan with one over tonight and 90 tomorrow to chase 323 to win. Who would have thought all 4 results would still be possible after both teams made over 500 in their first innings? It's because both teams have scored their runs so quickly and with positive intent. I might be sick tomorrow to watch this.
Delighted to see Chris Read in the runs - great comeback game for him. The ball is doing a bit and there is some uneven bounce too. Harmison and Panesar will be crucial but it is a target that can be chased. That said Pakistan have never chased a score this high in a 4th innings run chase. I predict England and Wales will knock them over for around 270 to take the series. Think there's more pressure on the batting team in a last day run chase than the fielding team.
Another cracking test match ongoing in Sri Lanka too. Sri Lanka with 5 men down need another 90 on the last day to beat South Africa. Murali took 7 second innings wickets to give him his 4th 10 wicket match in a row - incredible! The South Africans are up in arms over a comment Dean Jones, the former Australian batsman, made in commentary when Amla made an impressive catch. Amla is a Muslim and Jones said, 'A great catch by the terrorist.' A tad politically incorrect you could say.
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Post by bandage on Aug 8, 2006 9:05:22 GMT
Sri Lanka won by 1 wicket, Jayawardene with a crucial ton – he’s had some knocks lately. Seems like an absolute belter of a test match. 350 is some 4th innings chase too. Dean Jones was sacked for his comment last night by the way.
Getting goosebumps waiting for the start of play at Leeds this morning. It should be sensational.
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Post by cully on Aug 8, 2006 14:50:08 GMT
cant believe jones' comment, classic aussie stuff. good win for the poms. SA cricket is in turmoil although the sri lankans have been playing well of late.
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Post by bandage on Aug 8, 2006 15:15:48 GMT
Cracking display by us today. After losing 2-0 over there in November/December that’s a superb performance to bowl them out for 155 and take the series with a game to spare. Nice for the lads’ confidence to win a series before the Ashes, thus proving they can win without Vaughan (legend – best captain I’ve ever seen in any discipline), Flintoff (legend), Giles (honest journeyman but handy nonetheless) and Simon Jones (came of age last summer against the convicts – averaging 21 in the series). Also missing back up bowlers like Jimmy Anderson and Liam Plunkett that would have played ahead of Saji Mahmood so nice therefore to see Mahmood step up today and stake a claim.
Monty Panesar will be a hero soon – I take back what I said before about his batting – he defended stoutly last night and struck a delicious cover drive – Botham said he should be batting as high as 9. Delighted for Chris Read too – as always faultless behind the stumps but made 37 and 55 with the bat thus justifying his recall and the hard work he put in with the bat to earn the recall in the first place. He held it together last night under real pressure and I was delighted for him. They’re a young confident team and with Strauss back in the runs, Cook and Bell beginning to feel at home, KP being KP and Freddie to return I predict England and Wales will retain the Ashes. Comfortably.
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