4th Test - Match Reports

[Oxy]

Any takers?

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

[iZeeshan]

I can do today. In fact I'll start on it right now.

[Easa]

A very decent read, well done Pepsi.

I can do Day 2.

[iZeeshan]

Originally Posted by Easa A very decent read, well done Pepsi. I can do Day 2.

Thanks a lot. I love hearing it.

[garbage_can2003]

Nicely written. U might want to consider cutting down the number of 'walked in's'

[Mercenary]

Ok Pepsi i've posted your report on the homepage

[iZeeshan]

Originally Posted by garbage_can2003 Nicely written. U might want to consider cutting down the number of 'walked in's'

I was thinking that, but what else can I use?

[Mercenary]

Originally Posted by Pepsi™ I was thinking that, but what else can I use?

came to the crease

replaced (last batter)

pulled on his pads

put on his helmet

joined (the name of the other batter)

made his way out

due in next

and so on

[iZeeshan]

Originally Posted by Mercenary came to the crease replaced (last batter) pulled on his pads put on his helmet joined (the name of the other batter) made his way out due in next and so on

K thnx man...btw Merc...why do we have two reports? it sort of shadows the otehr...

[garbage_can2003]

Originally Posted by Pepsi™ I was thinking that, but what else can I use?

I don't know..... Maybe
came in,
emerged from the pavilion,
took the crease,
ABC was next after XYZ ......
or
It was CDE's turn to face the wrath of Pakistani bowling attack .....


But overall I thought it was a very good effort.

[Mercenary]

I didnt realise that Oxy had commissioned a report for today and since I wasn't busy, I wrote one myself quickly.

Besides more than one report isn't a bad thing, it just offers two opinions on the same events

[Easa]

So am I confirmed for tomorrow's report?

[Mercenary]

yes you are Easa and it better be on time!!

[Easa]

Inshallah.

[iZeeshan]

Originally Posted by Mercenary I didnt realise that Oxy had commissioned a report for today and since I wasn't busy, I wrote one myself quickly. Besides more than one report isn't a bad thing, it just offers two opinions on the same events

Aiite. I read yours Merc, its really good.

Merc I can also do Monday, if you want.

[Mercenary]

If no-one esle volunteers then we'll see Pepsi, we like to try and give as many people a chance as possible

[iZeeshan]

Originally Posted by Mercenary If no-one esle volunteers then we'll see Pepsi, we like to try and give as many people a chance as possible

No problem at all.

[James]

There seem to a lot more takers for this test than the last 3, wonder why that is

[Serendipity]

would you like to do one day WS ?

[James]

I can do tomorrow or Monday (not that game will make it to Monday)

[Easa]

At the end of the day, should I email the report to pakpassion@hotmail.com or do I send it as a PM to one of the MODS?

[iZeeshan]

Originally Posted by Whippy squash I can do tomorrow or Monday (not that game will make it to Monday)

Seeing as how it continues to rain, anything can happen.

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Easa At the end of the day, should I email the report to pakpassion@hotmail.com or do I send it as a PM to one of the MODS?

PM it to me AND Merc.

[Oxy]

Day 1 - Pepsi
Day 2 - Easa
Day 3 - Whippy Squishy
Day 4 -
Day 5 -

[Easa]

Originally Posted by Oxy™ PM it to me AND Merc.

No problem. About how long does it have to be?

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Easa No problem. About how long does it have to be?

Look at previous example s- gives you a good idea.

[Easa]

Ok, thanks.

[Easa]

Sent.

[Easa]

Whippy Squishy?

[iZeeshan]

He's prolly writing it right now.

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Easa Whippy Squishy?

It'll be up at 9ish (UK time)

[Rob H]

Originally Posted by Oxy™ It'll be up at 9ish (UK time)

you meant GMT didnt you

[James]

Oxy sorry this is late, I finished work at 9 but I don't get back for nearly an hour after that, sorry I didn't make that clear in the PM.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

England dig in but Pakistan remain favourites

On the third day of what has been an Oval test with a lot of talking points, England got a bit of momentum back in the test match but still face an uphill struggle to preserve their 2-0 series lead. After Pakistan had closed day two 163 runs ahead with 7 wickets in hand, England were totally out of the match but today they have at least given themselves a whiff of rescuing it.

The morning session was very stop-start, but England's experienced seamers Matthew Hoggard and Stephen Harmison immediately impressed a lot more than they had on day 1 and day 2. Bowling to crackerjack batsmen in Mohammed Yousuf and Inzamam ul-Haq, Hoggard and Harmison beat the bat several times and Inzamam just survived a leg before shout from a full length Harmison delivery. However, the cricket only lasted 5 overs before the rain came, and when the players came back on 70 minutes later, Harmison and Hoggard came running in again. Notably, Yousuf and Inzamam began to play more positively after batting in quite obdurate fashion at previous times in the morning, with some beautiful boundaries coming from both bats. In the face of these 2 class players, this half hour session before the 1pm lunch interval did still not yield any wickets for England despite the line and length continuing to be a lot more consistent.

After lunch, England finally got a breakthrough with the score on 379. Harmison ended what was possibly Inzamam's last test innings in England for 31, with a superb rising delivery that the great batsman could only fend off to slip, where skipper Andrew Strauss took the catch. So often after a partnership has been broken, the other half of the pair also departs, and this was the case again when Hoggard forced Yousuf to edge behind in the next over. Yousuf had been dropped twice early on but it had still been another sublime innings, this time of 125, that made up a sizeable chunk of Pakistan's lead (just over 200 at this point). Yousuf has truly had a fantastic series with a record-breaking 600+ runs scored and will be a strong contender for the Man of the Series.

Now Harmison suddenly began to look like Curtly Ambrose, which again emphasised why he is so frustrating to England fans, because he has just as many bad days as good ones and on the bad days, you might as well be watching a club player. That said, all was forgiven at least for today, as he began to bowl snorters to both new batsmen Faisal Iqbal and Kamran Akmal, one of which brought an edge to 3rd slip from Akmal. Akmal has had a very poor series with bat and gloves and the Pakistani management will be looking for a response from him in the upcoming one day series.

With the score on 398-6, there then came the first real partnership for a little while. Shahid Nazir batted for an hour with Iqbal until skying Mahmood to mid-on on the stroke of tea, the highlights of his cameo innings being a big six off Monty Panesar - the young England spinner who was so impressive at Old Trafford and Headingley, has had an anonymous match. Tea was taken on 444-7, with the Pakistani lead 271 and growing.

Umar Gul joined Iqbal after tea and provided another tough cookie for the England attack, who were tiring all-round by this stage and their best bowler Harmison needed to recharge his batteries, so Mahmood and Panesar took the workload. Gul was dropped in the gully by Collingwood 15 minutes after tea and lasted another 15 minutes, before hitting a six off Panesar then being trapped leg before by him in the same over! Nevertheless it had been another useful tail end cameo, this time of 13 runs, and the lead had sneaked over 300.

The much-maligned Iqbal answered his critics soon after Gul had departed by bringing up his half century, a vital effort as the 50 runs were valuable in themselves but he had also shepherded the tail excellent to really drive the nail into the English coffin. A 250 lead is excellent but he had taken it past 300 with the tail, which is practically untouchable. Damish Kaneria, often the butt of jokes for his batting ability, followed up his highest ever test score at Headingley with a fun 15, including a slog for four off Harmison, before edging to slip off the same bowler soon after. Harmison had looked like a different bowler today and 2 balls later, took his 4th wicket to finally end the innings, by getting Mohammed Asif to spoon a catch. However, the lead was 331 and the damage had surely been done.

England will have been pleased to take the last 7 Pakistani wickets for under 150 runs, but ultimately it had come much too late, as the first 3 wickets had combined for nearly 400 runs! Harmison and Hoggard had made up for their earlier garbage with 4-fer and 3-fer respectively, but it was small consolation.

England openers Strauss and Marcus Trescothick came out out to bat knowing the momumental task ahead of their side, and knowing the English players had a point to prove after a complately inadequate first innings total. 6 single figures scores including 2 first ball ducks is almost unheard of in an England 1st innings.

Things started very badly, with the woefully out of form Trescothick edging Asif behind after the impressive young paceman had beaten his bat a couple of times already. Trescothick will have to pull his finger out soon in what has been one of his worst test runs since the West Indies tour of 2004, or else watch out for the likes of Ed Joyce, Owais Shah or Mark Butcher replacing him with Alistair Cook opening and one of the aformentioned trio going to no.3.

England closed the day on a better note, with Strauss leading by example and Cook looking good as he has numerous other times in this series, both hitting their share of boundaries and batting with grit and determination, to take England to stumps at 78-1, still needed 253 runs to make Pakistan bat again.

With 2 days left in the test match, it is up to England to bat out of their skins, with Kevin Pietersen in particular under pressure. Despite 3 tons this summer, one of them a memorable matchwinner against Sri Lanka, England's star batsman has looked unconvincing in most of his other innings this summer including a horrible golden duck in this test, and a Pietersen special in the 2nd innings would be timely.

Maybe England will need the gods to grant them a few cloudbursts as well, or we are looking at a consolation victory for Pakistan which won't rescue the series but it will give them momentum heading up to the exciting prospect of the Twenty20 and 50 overs games, where more key players are coming back from injury and they will surely compete better with England throughout, than they have in this test series.

By Whippy.

[Easa]

That is very well, written WS. I enjoy reading your reports.

[Mercenary]

Ok Whippy i've put it up for you, great work

[MIG]

Excellent stuff WS - well done - however, you failed to mention the threat of reverse swing ( yes, its the Botham in me talking !) that will also be something England will need to work to overturn ( and on the subject of turn, Kaneria will also feel he has a good chance, now that there is pressure on England and the pitch deteriorates a little )

[Oxy]

Any takers for:-

Day 4
Day 5

[Easa]

If nobody else volunteers, I could do tomorrow.

[iZeeshan]

I can do today, I guess if no one else volenteers. I can also do tomorrow.

[Rob H]

edited - i got the wrong thread

[iZeeshan]

Can I please not do today, I have no idea what to say. I can try for the 20/20 or ODIs

[Oxy]

Day 4: Oxy
Day 5: Easa

[iZeeshan]

If there is a day 5...

[Easa]

I dont think I'll be able to do tomorrow's report as I might not be here tomorrow for half the day.

I apologize.

[James]

Thanks for positive feedback. You could write a book on today's events Oxy!

[iZeeshan]

Oxy bhai, I can't wait to read ur report!

[Oxy]

Originally Posted by Pepsi™ Oxy bhai, I can't wait to read ur report!

I have nothing left to give - feeling very drained.

[James]

I would stand in for you but I think any report would go off on too many tangents about the umpiring instead of talking about the excellent competitive cricket before tea.

[Amjid Javed]

easa,

i look forward to your day 5 report

[Oxy]

Day 5: Darrell Hair

[ali_ed2006]

Originally Posted by Oxy™ Day 5: Darrell Hair

[Easa]

Here's my report.

No play was possible on the 5th day as this match has been given to England because Pakistan did not come out after the interval.

Easa Quraishi.