Pakistan reach 80/2 at Stumps on Day 4 in chase of a target of 343 to win the 1st Test

[PakPremi]

Must say Imam has been improving match by match and still batting confidently despite two quick wickets and Azhar walking off with injury. Hopefully, he will not end up playing an uncalled for dumb shot which is typical of all Pakistani batsmen.

[Saj]

From pcb

Azhar Ali update

Azhar was hit on the tip of his right index finger and is currently under observation of the medical staff. I will provide updates when there is more information.

[imshally81]

From pcb

Azhar Ali update

Azhar was hit on the tip of his right index finger and is currently under observation of the medical staff. I will provide updates when there is more information.

Means... He won't come for bat tomorrow 🙄🙄🙄

[Sarwar89]

From pcb

Azhar Ali update

Azhar was hit on the tip of his right index finger and is currently under observation of the medical staff. I will provide updates when there is more information.

He has to show courage tomorrow to come & score runs. He led Pakistan down in Gaddafi stadium third decisive test on 5th day v Australia
He led pakistan down v Nzl 2018 ajaz patel abu dhabi

And his timidity has costed babar azam wicket

[shah_1]

I don't wish anyone bad but it is best for Pakistan cricket that he doesn't return to the team soon. Wish you good recovery Azhar Ali

[Cover Drive Six]

Lol.. Babar was looking at umpire and pretending.

[PakPremi]

England will try to leach some more wickets now.

[shariqnoor]

Pakistan will most likely lose 2 more wickets tonight.

[SpiritOf1903]

Pep Guardian!! :

[Energy]

So it's England who played at 6.5rpo first innings tactically to set up the match. Then grinded 150 overs in the field, play fast enough to enforce a sporting declaration and come back to bowl in 3 hours in order to make an even contest out of nothing.

In the meanwhile, Pakistan have had no tactics at all, bowled poorly, batted slightly above average and will now try to play a blockathon tomorrow to bore everyone unsportingly and keep England 100 overs on the field again. Else, will succumb to lose quietly.

We are certified dheets. 😎

[SpiritOf1903]

Pep Guardian!! :

Leach being called *Guardiola.. might need to change my resolution

[Adi_62945]

This pitch has silly ways of biting

[Kriketer]

We were told that declaration is buffonery, that Eng cannot dictate how Pak will play, that stokes and baz got it horribly wrong, that Pak would get these runs at their own pace.


What seems to have happened here in last half an hour since these predictions?

Just normal cricket. Wickets do fall in cricket and Pakistan batting collapse aren't an uncommon site. Pak is still in it if they keep their cool, its a nothing pitch.

[castortroy]

India would have destroyed this England team in India within 3 days. They would have created complete dust bowls and played to their advantage

[Robert]

Time to bring on Basement the Destroyer.

[Bewal Express]

A big innings for Saud. We will know if has the belief and belongs at this level.

[Energy]

Good to see Shakeel playing his strokes. Very good.

[kingusama92]

Good batting these guys need to stay not out tonight.

[JibranAnsari]

Pakistan should try out kamran ghulam in place of azhar ali in next test match.Faheem ashraf for haris rauf and may be play abrar for zahid mehmood.

[imshally81]

Great shot... 4 runs

[JibranAnsari]

Does anyone else think that sarfraz is a better option than rizwan in test cricket?

[SpiritOf1903]

England just need to bowl longhops and the rabbits will nibble

[PakPremi]

India would have destroyed this England team in India within 3 days. They would have created complete dust bowls and played to their advantage

Pakistan is not India so keep your expectations low

[SpiritOf1903]

Isn't it time for Tommy Hilfiger yet

[PakPremi]

Does anyone else think that sarfraz is a better option than rizwan in test cricket?

No Rizwan is a better keeper and even better batsman. Sarfraz only strength was against spinners.

[JibranAnsari]

Imams away average 25
Neutral average 28
And home average of 88!

[JibranAnsari]

India would have destroyed this England team in India within 3 days. They would have created complete dust bowls and played to their advantage

Yah but pakistan cant even play spin so no advantage for us.

[PakPremi]

Imams away average 25
Neutral average 28
And home average of 88!

Are not most of his away matches quite early into his Test career?

[imshally81]

Good positive batting by these two...

[SpiritOf1903]

Root is so underused. He should do what Vaughan used to

[boomboomcheema]

Imam suddenly tuk taking a lot .common keep the scoreboard ticking Man.

[imshally81]

Dropped

[SpiritOf1903]

Shelled by Jennings at short-leg. Hot potatoe. Pivotal moment in the match

[PakPremi]

Imam suddenly tuk taking a lot .common keep the scoreboard ticking Man.

No point losing a wicket in last few overs.

[imshally81]

Stumps

[Rana]

Pakistan in a great position to win this match tomorrow

[PakPremi]

Good sensible bating by Imam and Saud whilst ticking off runs after couple quick wickets.

[IAJ]

Even if only get in 80 overs tomorrwo, 3,3 runs over on this pitch is not a big deal.

[boomboomcheema]

Will Pakistan go for win tomorrow ? Not sure if Pakistan will get enough overs tomorrow to score the remaining runs.

[PakPremi]

Pakistan in a great position to win this match tomorrow

Knowing Pakistan mental fragility I would say no, only Rizwan left as a batsman of any quality. Not sure Agha has it in him so early in his career. Azhar injured or not should always be discounted nowdays.

[Rana]

It’s so easy to score runs here

Stokes has made it very easy as well with his field placings

Plenty of runs on offer. He won’t go on the defensive throughout

[Majestic_Inzi]

Rizwan is not test match player, batting is weak..

[Majestic_Inzi]

Eng winning this test match thats almost certainty now..

[Robert]

A fascinating day, with all four results possible tomorrow!

Pakistan should look to bat carefully until lunch with maybe another wicket down, then reassess.

[Rana]

Rizwan is not test match player, batting is weak..

It’s his best format

He isn’t a T20 or ODI player

[Kianig89]

Kudos to England for making a game out of this snoozefest

[MenInG]

Sangakkara: Pakistan will be feeling the pressure

Sangakkara thinks Pakistan must get through the first session without losing a wicket.

"I think with Babar out and Ali injured, Pakistan will be feeling the pressure. The first session tomorrow morning has to go without damage, and these two will have to build a partnership until lunch. Then they will look at the scoreboard," he said.

Butcher thinks there is a big job on for Jack Leach, without any reverse swing on offer.

"The two left-handers are in, if the ball does reverse swing, the stumps aren't in danger, and it won't carry through. Big job for Leach landing it in the rough and hopefully Jacks is body is in a good shape. If England break this partnership, then they are in the game."

[Amjid Javed]

Huge job for pakistan to save test, not much batting left. Pretty much Down to Saud and Imam to bat vast majority of tomorrow.

[Rana]

Huge job for pakistan to save test, not much batting left. Pretty much Down to Saud and Imam to bat vast majority of tomorrow.

They both need to add a hundred runs each tomorrow

[SpiritOf1903]

Pakistan need to look at drawing first. They've not the talent to force a win but England might get desperate and leak runs as the ball becomes increasingly benign

[sweep_shot]

What were England thinking? Declaring with a target of 343? On such a flat pitch?

This is Pakistan's game to lose.

[MenInG]

Ben Stokes led from the front, shocking Pakistan with 100% of his new-ball deliveries short

[jnaveen1980]

Is the retired batsman going to bat again? If Azhar can bat they have a real sniff

[Ahmed216]

Credit to England for making it so exciting on this docile pitch

[MenInG]

"Our top priority is to save the match and if given the opportunity, I will do my best to help the team win the game": Agha Salman

[Ahmed216]

"Our top priority is to save the match and if given the opportunity, I will do my best to help the team win the game": Agha Salman

Disappointing to know. Pak cricketers are so timid. This defeatist mentality is what holds the team back and we see the team lose games from winning positions more than ever before

[Saurav]

Extremely brave declaration

But Pak should chase this quite easily

[imshally81]

Is the retired batsman going to bat again? If Azhar can bat they have a real sniff

Yes he can.. If fit

[jnaveen1980]

Extremely brave declaration

But Pak should chase this quite easily

Yes . Two average spinners. One 40 year bowler. One all rounder One trundler.

[ARK Rafay]

"Our top priority is to save the match and if given the opportunity, I will do my best to help the team win the game": Agha Salman

They will lose. 100%

If the team thinks chasing 200 odd runs in a day in a Test match is not more realistic than a draw, it tell a lot about the mentality of our Cricket as a whole.

Contrast to BazzBall. Where England targeted 200 runs per session on this pitch.

[wrongun]

Babar is soft player. He can score only against Zimbabwe and second string attack.

How many did he get first innings?

He must literally scored at Bradmanesque 100 EVERY innings to satisfy PP?

[Buffet]

80% chance for Pakistan win here.

[Farabi]

How many did he get first innings?

He must literally scored at Bradmanesque 100 EVERY innings to satisfy PP?

Lolllllll

[GLORY OF '92]

80% chance for Pakistan win here.

We have 1.5 batsmen left after these 2. I'd expect us to get to 200 to 250 max. Most teams would have chased this down v this attack on this pitch.

[muqarrab]

Ben Stokes led from the front, shocking Pakistan with 100% of his new-ball deliveries short

Where is this picture from?

[James]

80% chance for Pakistan win here.

I think that’s a bit high Buffet.

[Savak]

Bizzare why didn't the Pakistani pacers stick to the short ball strategy or try and target the ribs from around the wicket when nothing was working. Why did no one sense the need to change things rather than going through with the same thing again and again?

Does the captain not have a brain where he can assess they need to change something and try something different?

What is the team think tank ie Saqlain, Yousaf, Tait doing? Can they not send a message out or think about these things themselves?

Complete lack of pro activeness by everyone involved

[Nasty Naz]

"Our top priority is to save the match and if given the opportunity, I will do my best to help the team win the game": Agha Salman

This team does not deserve to win with a mentality like this. Your priority is not save the match, it's to win after being thoroughly embarrassed by England batting on your home pitch after England hasn't played a Test match in Pakistan after 17 years.

Just a run rate of a bit over 3 is required and this pitch has zero demons. Basically already 3 down already somehow though so I hope they can pull it off but seems a bit unlikely at this point. Would need Imam or Saud to carry them through and both should look to play a special knock like Abdullah did vs Sri Lanka to win that match.

[GLORY OF '92]

This team does not deserve to win with a mentality like this. Your priority is not save the match, it's to win after being thoroughly embarrassed by England batting on your home pitch after England hasn't played a Test match in Pakistan after 17 years.

Just a run rate of a bit over 3 is required and this pitch has zero demons. Basically already 3 down already somehow though so I hope they can pull it off but seems a bit unlikely at this point. Would need Imam or Saud to carry them through and both should look to play a special knock like Abdullah did vs Sri Lanka to win that match.

"We're talking in the camp that we need to go and win this match," Agha Salman at the end of play. "We don't know how the pitch will react on the fifth day, but we have it in our minds that we'll go for it and try to win it."

The full quote.

[Savak]

Pakistan have made the same mistakes as they did in Australia. It is criminal that people are not held accountable in this country.

[ssuhaide]

India would have destroyed this England team in India within 3 days. They would have created complete dust bowls and played to their advantage

In my opinion a dust bowl is just as bad as producing a road and should be punished accordingly.

[Amjid Javed]

Azhar and Rizwan can be counted to do anything, Agha is still trying to establish himself as a test player, add to that a very long tail which could collapse quickly, pretty much pakistan need to get through to 2nd session atleast with Imam and Saud still in.

[MenInG]

Highlights of the days play

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[Farabi]

This is a different England. They are playing without the fear of old.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.

I don’t see a grand, altruistic vision. I see England serving themselves well here.
If England will now play to win, then why did they continue batting and score 650? Btw they still weren’t willing to declare at 650, and they would have kept going if they didn’t get out. If they truly cared about results, they should have declared when they were around 400 to ensure there is a result, but they decided to pile on.

The declaration with a 340 target is regulation. Maybe you will see some defensive teams declare around 370ish but it was par.

Also, Brandon has made a clever calculation. England’s approach in test cricket is now better aligned with the resources they are producing: stroke makers who are dominant on flat tracks.
With this strategy, England will be more competitive on flat tracks, which will improve their overall yield.
Take Brooks as an example. He struggled on the supporting wickets in Aus during the 2022 T20 WC, but he’s now having a ball on this flat highways.

Definitely more watchable though, that I’ll agree. But anymore altruistic? I am
not sure.

[Suleiman]

Another winnable game being tossed as usual by Pakistan.

The difference in mindset is fascinating to watch.

A team that has no fear of losing going for the kill vs a team that is deathly afraid of failure despite playing at home throwing wickets to no namers.

[msb314]

Another winnable game being tossed as usual by Pakistan.

The difference in mindset is fascinating to watch.

A team that has no fear of losing going for the kill vs a team that is deathly afraid of failure despite playing at home throwing wickets to no namers.

How can you say this is a “winnable” game after conceding 657 on this Rawalpindi pitch ? 🤔

[GLORY OF '92]

Another winnable game being tossed as usual by Pakistan.

The difference in mindset is fascinating to watch.

A team that has no fear of losing going for the kill vs a team that is deathly afraid of failure despite playing at home throwing wickets to no namers.

Very painful how many Tests and trophies we throw away every year

[Suleiman]

How can you say this is a “winnable” game after conceding 657 on this Rawalpindi pitch ? ��

Because it’s 343 to chase on the easiest pitch of the last 5 years. I’m talking about the current situation.

England’s declaration was reckless. Any top side on this sort of pitch Vs 3 specialist bowlers and rest being part timers would gun this down.

[Buffet]

We have 1.5 batsmen left after these 2. I'd expect us to get to 200 to 250 max. Most teams would have chased this down v this attack on this pitch.

Pakistan just need to not get scared with this short pitch stuff. Pitch is flat and Eng does not have bowlers to force the issue.

[Buffet]

I think that’s a bit high Buffet.

Yah, I forgot that one of the batsman is not going to bat.

I will still give Pakistan higher chance of chasing here. Just need to see off short bowling. Anyway, thanks to Eng's declaration, match became alive.