Day two report
That’s all from us today, thanks for your company and correspondence. I’ll be back in the early morning to bring you day three from Rawalpindi, it’ll more than likely be the last day of the series no matter what happens. Don’t miss it. Bye!
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What a day. England edged in front in the morning before Pakistan ground them down in the afternoon, recovering from 177 for 7 to end up with 344. A three wicket trick at the close puts the home side in a commanding position to take the series.
Oh, and it’s only the end of day two! This match has rattled along. Root and Brook will start in the morning with a deficit of 53 to chip off before Pakistan have to even think about chasing.
Michael Atherton still has hope for England, do you?
🗣️ "There's runs to be had"
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
Michael Atherton remains positive on England's chances of winning the deciding Test against Pakistan 👀 pic.twitter.com/wpXjQgeCAo
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Andrew Hill poses the question… I don’t have the brain capacity to crunch the numbers. You have to know your strengths and weaknesses in this life.
“At 19/2, England need to score 102 more runs for their total runs in the second and third tests to equal their monster 823 declared from the first test. Have a test team ever scored more in one innings of a three+ match series than they have in the rest of their innings in that series?”
“Runs after the fall of the sixth wicket so often determines the result of a Test match” emails Gary Naylor. “They’re usually the product of nous, belief and team spirit. England’s tally of 149 yesterday looked good, but it’s been eclipsed by Pakistan’s 189 today, not something many saw coming I suspect. Credit, then, to the much-maligned Shan Masood and Jason Gillespie, who have put their side in the box seats for a memorable win and given fans of the format yet another example of its unpredictability and charm.”
"The momentum is obviously with them" 👀
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
Rehan Ahmed analyses a tough day for England 🏴 pic.twitter.com/cMbeRYGYY7
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Stumps - England 24-3 (trail by 53)
Men all round the bat. Slip, leg slip and short leg breathing down Brook’s neck after Root sweeps a single. Brook gets forward and smothers the spin, something Pope failed to do to Noman last over. Brook collects two runs through the leg side and steers a single past point.
The Umpires are twitchy about the light, gloaming in Rawalpindi. In fact, they knock off the bails and lead the players off. England can’t get out of there quick enough but the damage could already be done.
9th over: England 24-3 (Root 5, Brook 3)
"The difference in emotions between England and Pakistan is stark" 👀
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
At the close of play England are 24-3, trailing by 53 runs 🏴 pic.twitter.com/9OuoE4YzbB
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8th over: England 20-2 (Root 3, Brook) That was the last ball of the over, here comes Harry Brook. England are clinging on here. They are probably done for already but they definitely can’t afford to lose another this evening.
WICKET! Ollie Pope c Agha Salman b Noman Ali 1 (England 20-3)
Pope is out! Noman gets one to loop, drift and spin, the ball taking Pope’s outside edge as he pokes out in front of his front pad, that’s what does for him, the ball hitting the glove and plopping up to slip. The side on angle shows Pope was nowhere near the pitch of the ball, Noman’ completely outwitting him with a change of pace.
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7th over: England 19-2 (Pope 1, Root 3) Pope survives a probing examination from Sajid Khan. Maiden. Six dots. Deep breaths.
6th over: England 19-2 (Pope 1, Root 3) Joe Root joins Pope out in the middle, he’ll feel like he owes his side some runs here after that misjudgement in the first innings. Crikey! Root nearly goes in exactly the same way again, playing back and asking to be pinned lbw but juuuust managing to jam the bat down in time! Be still my weary ticker. Pope pushes for one into the cover. Root is shuffling back and across again, clipping for two. Can’t take your eyes of it, more importantly, neither can you, Joe.
WICKET! Zak Crawley lbw b Noman Ali 2 (England 15-2)
Crawley on toast! A skidder from Noman Ali thuds into Crawley’s pad bang in front. There’s no inside edge to save him and a review is burned trying to find one. England in trouble. Trouble Trouble Trouble.
5th over: England 15-1 (Crawley 2, Pope 0) The beleaguered Ollie Pope joins Crawley in the middle. You could cut the atmosphere with a rusty spoon. Pope survives the four remaining balls. Wicket maiden from Sajid.
WICKET! Ben Duckett lbw b Sajid Khan 12 (England 15-1)
Brilliant bowling from Sajid who spears the first ball in and then follows up with a slower ball that loops and drops, beating Duckett on the inside edge and slamming into his pads. The umpire says not out but Pakistan are convinced! Rightly so – the DRS shows the ball was smacking into middle stump. Duckett has to go!
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4th over: England 15-0 (Crawley 2, Duckett 12) A probing maiden from Noman Ali. Flight and guile. Feel the tension.
3rd over: England 15-0 (Crawley 2, Duckett 12) Sweep x 2! Sajid Khan back into the attack after one over from Saim Ayub. Ben Duckett drops to his knees and plays back to sweeps to get back to back fours!
2nd over: England 5-0 (Crawley 1, Duckett 3) Crawley stands tall and drives off the back foot for a single through cover. Duckett then gets out the sweep and picks up two runs to deep square leg.
1st over: England 1-0 (Crawley 0, Duckett 0) Saim Ayub is opening the bowling, Shan Masood getting funky! Noman Ali and Sajid Khan absolutely livid no doubt. England’s third innings gets underway with a Zak Crawley leg bye. Noman is going to bowl the second over, spindly shadows stretching over the outfield. This will be a real test for England.
Here come Crawley and Duckett… buckle up.
Pakistan all out 344 (lead by 77 runs after 1st innings)
Bowled him with the googly! Rehan finishes with 4-66 and England drag their weary weary limbs from the field. The last few hours have been punishing for Stokes and his men, they now have a tricky hour to face with the bat before the close. They need to wipe off 77 runs before they can start to make their opponents sweat.
Pakistan are bowled out for 344 🇵🇰
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
Rehan Ahmed takes the final wicket as Pakistan lead by 77 runs 👀 pic.twitter.com/VtUvKjEPtN
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96th over: Pakistan 337-9 (Sajid Khan 41, Zahid Mahmood 0) Atkinson takes his metaphorical sweater after getting the breakthrough. Zahid Mahmood is the last man in, I dare say Sajid is going to open his shoulders here…
WICKET! Saud Shakeel c sub (Potts) b Atkinson 134 (Pakistan 337-9)
The end of an epic innings! Atkinson gets the breakthrough with a short ball, Saud in two minds whether to pull or not and ends up plinking a simple catch to midwicket. What a knock, entered the fray at 46-3 and departs nearly a day later with a century to his name and having hauled his side to a lead of 70 runs on a tricky pitch. Well batted Saud Shakeel. Advantage Pakistan!
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95th over: Pakistan 333-8 (Saud 131, Sajid Khan 39) Pakistan lead by 66 as three runs are pilfered off Jack Leach. Gus Atkinson is coming on to try and bust out a wicket for England.
Pakistan have almost doubled their score from when their seventh wicket fell. This is a remarkable comeback
— Chris Stocks (@StocksC_cricket) October 25, 2024
Saud Shakeel's total lack of ego has done England here. Not worried about boundaries, just taken singles, trusted the tail and slowly chipped away. England have been curiously passive in response.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) October 25, 2024
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94th over: Pakistan 330-8 (Saud 131, Sajid Khan 39) Things have calmed down after the pongoing of a few overs ago. Rehan gets through another over with two singles worked off it.
Updated
93rd over: Pakistan 328-8 (Saud 130, Sajid Khan 38) Leach continues, Saud and Sajid work the gaps and scamper runs, the lead stretches to 61. This partnership have added 63 runs in ten overs. Ben Stokes has his field spread, not a catcher in sight. It’s not often you see that, England firmly on the defensive, trying to limit the damage.
92nd over: Pakistan 324-8 (Saud 127, Sajid Khan 36) Well bowled Rehan Ahmed, just a single off his latest over. England licking their wounds in Rawalpindi.
What an innings this is from Sajid Khan 💪
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
Two sixes and a four come from the Shoaib Bashir over 👏 pic.twitter.com/QwNoZrzB2r
Meanwhile…
91st over: Pakistan 323-8 (Saud 127, Sajid Khan 36) What.A.Shot! Sajid plays an in-to-out lofted drive to a Jack Leach length ball and blasts over cover for a flat four. Bugle sounds. Stand and Deliver! Crank up Adam Ant.
Pakistan lead by 56 runs
90th over: Pakistan 317-8 (Saud 126, Sajid Khan 31) Bashir is spared another by Stokes but England’s captain chooses to thrust young Rehan Ahmed’s feet to the fire instead. The leggie does well to get out of the over for just a couple. I’m worn out, Pakistan’s lead stretches past fifty, it’s been high octane stuff post tea.
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89th over: Pakistan 315-8 (Saud 125, Sajid Khan 30) Leach does well to keep a lid on things, just two runs off the over as Saud tells Sajid to take a breath and not try to hit every single ball. Twenty more minutes of this and England will be dead and buried.
88th over: Pakistan 313-8 (Saud 124, Sajid Khan 29) Sajid Khan is destroying his fellow off-spinner in Rawalpindi! Six runs clattered over Ben Duckett at mid on… and again SIX MORE. Bashir is wide eyed, the game and series on the line and he’s being well and truly targeted. Four more! Sajid cuts a short ball away to the fence. Fantastic hitting, England are hurting here, NINETEEN runs off the over.
The entire complexion of this match has shifted – Pakistan lead by 47 runs.
Updated
87th over: Pakistan 294-8 (Saud 123, Sajid Khan 11) More pain for England as Leach leaks thirteen runs off his over! Saud Shakeel gets in on the act and swipes through midwicket for four, that’s his first boundary in 108 deliveries!
86th over: Pakistan 281-8 (Saud 113, Sajid Khan 9) Pakistan still have to bat last on this surface so runs in front will be crucial. That’ll help! Sajid Khan smears Bashir down the ground for SIX. He can be dangerous with the bat and every run hurts England. More runs are scampered and eleven runs are collected off the over.
85th over: Pakistan 270-8 (Saud 110, Sajid Khan 1) Saud knocks Jack Leach’s first ball post tea into the leg side for a couple to give Pakistan a lead on first innings. A single brings Sajid Khan on strike and he’s content to pat back the rest of the over.
Here come the players post tea. Scores level. Series on the line. What more could you possibly ask for this Autumnal Friday morning?
Jeremy Boyce seems to be clamouring for Harry Brook to turn his arm over:
“It seems to me this is a situation crying out for someone who can send down a few sets of head-scrambling concentration-testing Dermot Reeve-styled Dibbly-Dobblers, harnessing the unpredictability of the bowling to that of the pitch.”
“I don’t like to see Geoffrey traduced.” Writes Peter Metcalfe.
“At Headingley in the 1960s/70s it was quite a sight to see the great man shepherd the scores of autograph hunters into an orderly queue along the boundary before he stood there and started signing. Some signed twice over. And he signed all his books on the sales stand before they were even sold. I also treasure two appreciative letters from him, in blue Quink ink, from when he was outrageously dropped in 1967 for alleged slow scoring.”
Tea: Pakistan 267-8 (Scores level)
The players head off for the tea interval without a single run to split them.
84th over: Pakistan 267-8 (Saud 107, Sajid Khan 1)
Updated
WICKET! Noman Ali lbw b Shoaib Bashir 45 (Pakistan 265-8)
Gone this time! England have toiled for the breakthrough and they get it right at the end of the session. Bashir gets the new ball to skid on and Noman plays across the line on the back foot, he knows he’s done for as soon as he misses it. Brilliant knock though, helped haul his side up to parity.
The new ball does for Noman Ali and we have a crucial breakthrough! 💥
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 25, 2024
Pakistan eight down with the scores exactly level... ⚖️
🇵🇰 2️⃣6️⃣7️⃣-8️⃣pic.twitter.com/WT1F7XGz2Y
Updated
83rd over: Pakistan 265-7 (Saud 106, Noman 45) Another big lbw appeal! From Leach this time but there was another big edge on it and umpire Sharfuddoula spotted it. So did England as they choose not to review.
82nd over: Pakistan 262-7 (Saud 105, Noman 44) Bashir back into the attack and goes up for a vociferous appeal to Noman Ali who misses with a sweep. Umpire Gaffaney not interested though and England opt not to review. DRS shows that it was clipping leg but would have stayed with Umpire’s call. Another appeal next ball but a big inside edge saves Noman and they scamper a couple with the ball trickling off fine.
81st over: Pakistan 257-7 (Saud 105, Noman 41) New ball but same old. Leach is worked around for six runs off his returning over. England looking flatter than Michael Flatley driving across a fjord with four flat tyres and a broken stereo. Pakistan only trail by ten runs now.
Will emails in with another amusing Boycott encounter:
“At Trent Bridge in the early 1990s, my friend Ed and I joined a small group of autograph hunters approaching Boycott only to be loudly berated, “Not now, I’m having me loonch!”. Still, I remember this much more vividly than the autographs we did get that day (sorry, RK Illingworth).”
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80th over: Pakistan 251-7 (Saud 104, Noman 38) Root rattles through his over, Saud flicks a couple then drives his 72nd single to keep the strike. The new ball is due and has been taken. Aptly, Jack ‘The Nut’ Leach is going to have first use of it.
Hundred for Saud Shakeel!
A clip into the leg side off Rehan Ahmed brings Saud a brilliant century. He raises his bat nonchalantly whilst Noman goes gangbusters with his celebration. Arms everywhere, lovely to see. Saud has kept his side in this match and could well tilt the scales in Pakistan’s favour if he stays out there for another half an hour or so. England’s lead is down to just 19 runs.
79th over: Pakistan 248-7 (Saud 101, Noman 38)
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78th over: Pakistan 243-7 (Saud 98, Noman 36) Joe Root replaces Bashir and nearly gets a wicket first ball! Root gets one to spit off the wicket and take the shoulder of Noman’s bat, the edge looping just out of reach of Stokes at slip. Noman works Root for a single but gets a ticking off for running down the middle of the wicket, that’s his second warning. Naughty boy.
77th over: Pakistan 241-7 (Saud 97, Noman 35) Noman Ali sweeps Rehan hard to the square leg fence for four! Eeeesht! Nearly a run out next ball as Noman jabs to point and calls Saud for a run, Stokes swoops and peels off a fast and hard throw at the stumps, missing by a few inches. Noman would have been gone too. Stokes wipes his brow with his cap and allows himself a rueful grin.
76th over: Pakistan 235-7 (Saud 96, Noman 30) Saud cuts Bashir for two and then picks up a couple more with a clip off his legs. He goes to within one blow of a Test ton, he’s only hit four boundaries all innings mind. This is Pakistan’s highest partnership of the innings.
75th over: Pakistan 230-7 (Saud 91, Noman 30) Rehan flights a few, Saud and Noman nudge and nurdle, taking the runs on offer.
74th over: Pakistan 227-7 (Saud 89, Noman 29) The fifty partnership is up for Saud and Noman Ali. Pakistan very much in this game. England’s lead down to 40 runs. Bubbling up in Rawalpindi as the incongruous tubthumps of Chumbawumba burst out of the stadium PA system (Tannoy is a brand name, you knew that though).
“Hi Jim, given what’s happening in Pune, have New Zealand fired up the patio heaters in Wellington? Has cricket changed forever?"
Jake – emailing from the classroom - this tour fits well with the teaching day”
Are you hiding in a store cupboard or brazenly emailing in in front of a classroom of kids? New Zealand going well in Pune, a first Test win on Indian soil on the cards…
73rd over: Pakistan 225-7 (Saud 88, Noman 28) Noman Ali smears Rehan over mid on for SIX! Confident shot and more frustration for England. Well bowled – a good response from the young leggie who rips one on a length, he’s been a bit too short in this brief spell. Time for a drink.
72nd over: Pakistan 215-7 (Saud 87, Noman 19) England burn a review as Bashir replaces Atkinson and Noman Ali tries to sweep a straight ball but connects only with fresh air. It looked outside the line on first glance and so it proved on DRS. England looking slightly frustrated by this partnership, wounding memories of Pakistan’s wagging tail in the second Test at Multan creeping back into the noodle no doubt. The partnership between this pair is up to 39 runs in 14 overs.
71st over: Pakistan 211-7 (Saud 86, Noman 16) Rehan struggles to find his length and is easily worked around for five singles. Pakistan trail by 56 runs.
“On the subject of meeting famous cricketers, I was at a Test match with my Dad at the Oval in the late 80s when I was about 10 years old. As we were heading down the stairs between overs to get a drink, a kindly looking West Indian gentleman was walking up the other way. He paused and looked at me smiling, presumably waiting for me to ask him for his autograph. Alas at that stage in my cricketing education I didn’t recognise the greatest all rounder in history, so I smiled back and then edged round him and headed down the stairs. I only realised who he was when I saw his autobiography in the shop later that day.”
It’s good to keep these guys on their toes, Tom Barnes.
KLANG. I met Sobers a few years ago. Are you daft? Of course I asked him about Malcolm Nash:
70th over: Pakistan 206-7 (Saud 84, Noman 13) Atkinson stitches together a maiden, shaved scalp glistening with sweat under the afternoon sun. Hard yakka. Rehan Ahmed is being summoned, he was the star of the morning session. Can he prise another one out for England? He’s got real chutzpah, watching him bowl is a joy.
69th over: Pakistan 206-7 (Saud 84, Noman 13) Five singles collected off Bashir with a minimum of fuss. England’s lead being whittled away.
Mark Lewis is indulging in a bit of chaos theory this Friday morning.
“Morning Jim, On meeting your heroes… In early summer of ‘05, a friend of mine was living in Cardiff. During a morning jog, he bumped into Simon Jones, who was running towards him, likely still recuperating from his latest injury. Spotting Jones, my friend mentioned a nasty pothole on his side of the road and warned him to be careful approaching it. “We need you fit for the First Test!” he added. Jones missed the pothole, stayed fit, and the rest is history. My pal claims he basically won us the urn that year...”
Say thanks from me, Mark. Imagine a life without this – gudddunk!
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68th over: Pakistan 201-7 (Saud 81, Noman 11) Thanks Rob and hello all. Engrossing Test cricket right here, Pakistan trail by 69 runs on first innings and Saud is well set. We could be in for a one innings shoot out to decide the series. Err yes please.
Gus Atkinson slams a few into the guts of the pitch, England have gone to a short ball policy it seems – Pope is fielding very close in at silly cover. Lid firmly in place to protect his cherubic features. Noman rolls the wrists and collects a single to take Pakistan past 200.
Right, that’s it from me for today and indeed the series. Jim will be with you for the rest of the day. Thanks again for your company, emails, rants and riffs. See you for the West Indies white-ball games.
67th over: Pakistan 198-7 (Saud 78, Noman 10) Sharfuddoula made two howlers yesterday but that decision, though incorrect, was fair enough – it looked out in real time.
Successful review from Noman Ali ✅ pic.twitter.com/PlLZv1J1B8
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
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Noman is not out! Indeed he did, a gossamer thin inside edge onto the pad.
REVIEW! Noman given out LBW to Bashir
It looked good, though the certainty with which Noman reviewed suggests he may have hit it.
Updated
It’s tea in Pune, where New Zealand are 85 for 2. Will Young fell to Ravichandran Ashwin for 25 but the captain Tom Latham is still there on 37. Their lead is 188.
66th over: Pakistan 197-7 (Saud 78, Noman 10) Saud takes a single off the first ball, almost with England’s blessing as it means Atkinson has the chance to bowl five at Noman. The second zips past the edge; the rest are defended solidly. For a No9, Noman has an impressive technique and temperament.
“Having finished reading the masterly tome The Art of Captaincy a few days previously, I bumped into Mike Brearley in the middle of Manchester,” writes Ian Wild. “He accosted me with the words: ‘Do you know where I can find the Piccadilly Hotel?’ I said, ‘Wow, you’re Mike Brearley!’ He said a little testily, ‘Yes. Do you know the whereabouts of The Piccadilly Hotel?’ I said ‘No’, and he walked on rather abruptly. Next time I was in Manchester, I saw we had been only a couple of hundred yards away from the massive Piccadilly. Still my hero.”
65th over: Pakistan 196-7 (Saud 77, Noman 10) Saud threads Bashir nicely between the two men at short extra. Only a single but it was a classy shot from a player who has made a mockery of all the low scores. He’s given only one chance, a really tough one to Jamie Smith on 20something.
“May have shared this before but my first meeting with a hero stays with me,” says Pete Salmon. “Waited in the foyer of the Hilton Hotel across from the MCG when I was nine in 1979. Ian Chappell, 53 not out overnight on his way to 75, came striding towards me. I held out my autograph book, but Chappell didn’t break stride, just said to me ‘F*** off mate, f*** off’ and kept going. Never felt so grown up - Chappelli had called me mate and told me to f*** off!”
The innocence of a child. Had that happened at 29 it would have been terrifying. I had the chance of interview Chappelli in early 2013; it was only over the phone but I was still genuinely fearful. He couldn’t have been nicer or more interesting. He even asked me if this new lad Joe Root was any good; for once I gave the right answer.
64th over: Pakistan 194-7 (Saud 76, Noman 9) Weird game, cricket. In the first two Tests England’s second-choice spinner was their biggest threat and now the third choice is doing the job.
Or rather he was. Gus Atkinson is on for Rehan Ahmed, who is possibly being saved for 10 and Jack. As Athers says on Sky, Noman Ali played Rehan well just before lunch; Rehan also looks more dangerous to the right-handers.
Anyway, Atkinson to Noman, with one slip and a couple of men on the drive. An attempted bouncer from Atkinson doesn’t get up at all and whooshes just past the tumps with Noman starting to take evasive action.
“Your mention of Boycott’s ruthlessly efficient way of dealing with autograph hunters reminds me of the time I bumped into Brian Johnston at Lord’s,” begins Phil Withall. “It was at a village cup final sometime in the early nineties, he was barrelling along, greeting all and sundry with a happy wave and a pleasant nod. After signing my match ticket he ploughed on ‘having places to be’, yet it still felt meaningful. As if he really appreciated the request, the recognition. A truly unique and wonderful man.”
63rd over: Pakistan 191-7 (Saud 75, Noman 8) Five singles form Bashir’s over, although one ball almost sneaked through to hit Noman in front.
“With the Test series likely to be concluded tomorrow, there are some very important questions for this England team,” says Phil Russell. “Namely ‘Where is the nearest golf course?’ and ‘Can we get 18 holes in before it gets dark?’ I presume that Jimmy Anderson will be tasked with sorting this out. Can’t imagine he’s got much to do as fast bowling coach beyond advising Atkinson to bowl at the stumps and wait for one to keep low.”
Haven’t you heard? They’ve made him the official reverse-sweep mentor.
Right then, the players are back on the field in Rawalpindi. Shoaib Bashir will start, though I’d have been tempted to give Gus Atkinson a couple of overs at Noman Ali.
New Zealand are racing along in Pune. They’re 78 for 1 after only 18 overs, a lead of 181. Like the man said.
“I remember as a 10-year-old at Hove in the late 1950s, I asked for Jim Parks’ signature, and he shooed me away with ‘not now, I’m busy’,” writes Dr Roger Luther. “ It made a lasting impression, as you can see.
”On the subject of Sussex wicketkeepers. in more recent years I used to take my dad, in his 90s, to a cafe in Rottingdean where we regularly met Rupert Webb and his lovely wife Babs. He was a great chap, very easy to talk to, now buried at the church in Rottingdean where Stanley Baldwin got married and Simon Cowell didn’t (good quiz question!).”
Pune update New Zealand are 59 for 1, a lead of 162, with the tantalising chance of an historic series victory. I think it’s a done deal, although I guess you never know with a team as great as India.
“On the subject of ‘You should never meet your heroes’,” begins Finbar Anslow. “My modest rebuttals would be Vic Marks (a polite handshake in the Oval car park) and Plaistow Patricia (sitting on the banks of a small river in the Piedmontese mountains).”
This reminds me of an amusing scene at The Oval in 2011. Geoffrey Boycott was signing a load of autographs, at which point some guy in his thirties started fawning over him: ‘Geoffrey you were my dad’s favourite player’, etc, etc. The guy was mid-sentence when Boycott barked imperiously: ‘Pen!’
At least Geoffrey signed it to be fair. I’ve heard a couple of stories of England greats telling kids where to stick their autograph book.
Today’s lunch break is a full hour to allow for Friday prayers, so play will resume at 9.30am BST.
“I find it fascinating that for all of the thrilling adventure of Bazball England still are unwilling to stick their head above the parapet and take a gamble on the excitement a legspinner can bring as their only spin option,” says Tom Van der Gucht. “Instead, we remain obsessed with the safety net that a finger spinner brings by holding an end up. Perhaps the final Rubicon that Morgan crossed with the ODI team through backing Rashid that allowed them to fully achieve greatness that McCullum and Stokes haven’t yet taken. Show them what you’re made of, Rehan.”
I might be wrong – it’s hardly without precedent – but I don’t think it’s that. They fast-tracked Rehan when he was 18 and, don’t forget, brought him into an Ashes squad as well. I suspect it’s simply that they think Bashir (who is also an extremely brave selection) is a better bowler and, crucially, more likely to succeed in Australia. There’s also a greater duty of care to young legspinners.
England don’t ask Bashir to hold an end up because they know he can’t, not at this stage of his career; they also picked Moeen Ali as an attacking option when Leach was injured for the Ashes. (Even if, weirdly enough, the series turned on a very tight spell from Moeen at Headingley.)
If England were playing it safe they’d have picked Liam Dawson, whose form with bat and ball in the last few years is spectacular.
England lead by 80 runs after another compelling session. They looked vulnerable at 151 for 4, only for the 20-year-old Rehan Ahmed to take three key wickets in a mischievous spell of legspin. Saud Shakeel is still there, having batted in a bubble to make a splendid 72 not out, so England aren’t guaranteed a first-innings lead. But they’d have taken this position at the start of play, and especially when Pakistan were 151 for 4.
Lunch
62nd over: Pakistan 187-7 (Saud 71, Noman 6) Noman doesn’t mind hitting out just before the interval. He blasts Rehan back over his head for an emphatic boundary – it almost went for six – and then turns the final ball of the session just short of leg slip.
61st over: Pakistan 182-7 (Saud 71, Noman 2) Saud trusts Noman, who made a vital 32 in the first innings at Multan, and is still batting in his bubble. He’ll have to open his shoulders at some stage but it’s never going to happen on the stroke of lunch.
60th over: Pakistan 179-7 (Saud 69, Noman 1) Rehan teases Noman with his variations: googly, legbreak, over and around the wicket. A late defensive stroke from Noman denies Rehan a plumb LBW; he has to settle for a second successive maiden.
58th over: Pakistan 179-7 (Saud 69, Noman 1) With the left-handed Noman in at No9, Stokes brings back Shoaib Bashir. A quiet over, two from it.
In Pune, Mitchell Santner has taken 7 for 53 and India have been bowled out for 156. They trail New Zealand by 103 runs on a Bunsen and are facing an historic series defeat.
58th over: Pakistan 177-7 (Saud 68, Noman 0) A wicket maiden for Rehan, who has bowled a thrilling spell of 6-1-19-3.
Rehan Ahmed has blown this game open. Aamer Jamal fiddled indecisively at a googly and deflected the ball back onto his stumps. He goes for 14 and England lead by 90 on a wearing pitch.
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WICKET! Pakistan 177-7 (Jamal b Rehan 14)
Rehan whips through another over. Jamal is straining to get outside the line so that he can’t be LBW even if he doesn’t pick the googly. Bowled looks more likely – and that’s exactly what’s happened!
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57th over: Pakistan 177-6 (Saud 68, Jamal 14) Jamal is beaten by Leach for the second time in as many overs. Pakistan are still picking up singles fairly easily but there isn’t quite the same sense of permanance they had during the Saud/Rizwan partnership.
56th over: Pakistan 174-6 (Saud 67, Jamal 12) From nowhere Saud charges Rehan, has a filthy mow across the line and edges the ball over the head of Stokes at slip. A leading edge from Jamal runs through point for another single.
Rehan could easily have dismissed all four batters he has bowled at today.
55th over: Pakistan 169-6 (Saud 63, Jamal 10) Jamal has started with intent. He rocks back to cuff Leach past mid-on for four, an unusual but beautifully played stroke. Leach hasn’t been at his best today, though the next ball is spot on and goes past the outside edge.
Meanwhile, in Pune… Mitchell Santner has taken six wickets and India, despite a typically defiant counter-attack from Ravindra Jadeja, are in the malodorous stuff like you would not believe: 142 for 9, still 117 runs behind.
54th over: Pakistan 164-6 (Saud 62, Jamal 6) A shortish delivery from Rehan is forced into the leg side for a couple by Jamal, who then hacks a single behind square on the leg side.
“Looks like the England selectors have struck gold by including Rehan Ahmed in the trio of spinners,” says Colum Fordham. “He is clearly the X-factor - low action, brisk pace, sharply turning googly - that is unsettling the Pakistan batsmen who are more used to the slow left arm/offspin combination of Leach and Bashir. Great to see Rehan smile, encouraged by his captain, injecting the young leggie with confidence. Good on Stokes!”
53rd over: Pakistan 159-6 (Saud 61, Jamal 3) Saud Shakeel is batting beautifully and doesn’t need to come out of his bubble just yet, although he will if he’s still at the crease when Pakistan are eight down. Three from Leach’s over; for once he’s the support act to Rehan Ahmed.
52nd over: Pakistan 156-6 (Saud 60, Jamal 1) Jamal inside-edges his first ball, another terrific googly, in the air but wide of short leg.
Salman is out! A huge double breakthrough from Rehan Ahmed! Salman pushed defensively down the wrong line at a lovely delivery that straightened to hit him on the back thigh. Bounce isn’t going to save him… and it’s umpire’s call on line!
Rehan Ahmed does it again 🔥
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
The leg spinner picks up his second wicket 2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/0ewjhLWGcP
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WICKET! Pakistan 155-6 (Salman LBW b Rehan 1)
It’s been reviewed and might be missing off, though my hunch is umpire’s call.
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51st over: Pakistan 152-5 (Saud 58, Salman 0) Leach replaces Bashir, presumably with the right-handed Salman in mind. He’s been Pakistan’s best batter in this series, averaging 87, but he looks a little nervous at the start of his innings.
50th over: Pakistan 151-5 (Saud 57, Salman 0) So close to another wicket! A beautiful googly from Rehan keeps low and is just kept out by the new batter Salman, who then gets a leading edge when trying to whip across the line.
WICKET! Pakistan 151-5 (Rizwan LBW b Rehan 25)
They’ve got the wicket! A beaming Rehan Ahmed has struck with his ninth ball of the day. Rizwan reached out to sweep, missed and was hit on the back thigh. The LBW was given on the field and, though Rizwan reviewed, the ball would have hit off and middle a third of the way up.
Rehan Ahmed strikes ⚡️
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
The review doesn't save Mohammad Rizwan ❌ pic.twitter.com/MksKBd0aKK
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49th over: Pakistan 149-4 (Saud 57, Rizwan 23) Rizwan pushes Bashir for a single to bring up an initiative-seizing fifty partnership in less than 13 overs. Time for drinks. England aren’t in trouble but they do need a wicket.
48th over: Pakistan 147-4 (Saud 56, Rizwan 22) Now then, Rehan Ahmed is on for Gus Atkinson. You’d imagine Rizwan will target him, although there’s no real scope to do so during a decent first over. One wider delivery keeps a bit low and is steered for a single by Rizwan, one of three in the over.
“Crawley feels like one of those players who will always have a question mark handing over him in the minds of the public,” says Will Vignoles. “Might be wrong but I remember Ian Bell having the same issue until the 2013 Ashes. For Crawley, he was as you pointed out fantastic against Australia and India, has averaged 46 or so in the past 18 months, is part of what is statistically and on entertainment value England’s best opening partnership since Andrew Strauss’s retirement started this whole mess and yet people still want him gone. Duckett may have become the main man, particularly in the subcontinent, but there’s a lot of value in Crawley still. Pope, less so sadly.”
One thing that helps Pope is that there’s no obvious replacement at No3. If he was batting, say, No5 I think he’d more vulnerable.
47th over: Pakistan 144-4 (Saud 54, Rizwan 21)
46th over: Pakistan 143-4 (Saud 53, Rizwan 21) There’s no movement for Atkinson, and no prospect of reverse swing, so his biggest weapon is uneven bounce. I don’t think any deliveries have really kept low today; maybe that’s because the ball is a bit older.
A series of gunbarrel-straight deliveries are repelled by Rizwan and there’s one from the over. Atkinson’s figures today are 4-0-10-0. He’ll probably have one more.
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45th over: Pakistan 142-4 (Saud 52, Rizwan 21) Saud sweeps Bashir firmly for four to bring up a terrific half-century from 92 balls. He was missed by Jamie Smith in the 20s but has otherwise played with an eyecatching assurance.
In an ideal world Ben Stokes would save Rehan Ahmed for the tail but he may need to gamble soon because Pakistan are cruising along. This pair have added 40 in the last eight overs with few alarms.
44th over: Pakistan 135-4 (Saud 46, Rizwan 20) Atkinson continues to target the stumps in the hope that one will shoot through. Rizwan gets a thick inside edge that bounces safely on the leg side, then pushes Atkinson down the ground for a couple. He’s playing superbly and is becoming a pain in England’s hindquarters.
“Any sign of Joe Root warming up?” asks Jeremy Boyce. Nope! “Given his rare failure with the bat yesterday I’m sure he’s itching to make up for the lapse. Actually, this seems to be the perfect occasion and pitch for some of Dermot Reeve’s dibbly-dobbly mash up.”
43rd over: Pakistan 133-4 (Saud 46, Rizwan 18) Bashir replaces Leach and is swept deftly for three by Saud; it should have been two but there was an overthrow after a poor return from Rehan.
Three singles make it six from the over in total. Rizwan has put England under pressure and runs are starting to come more easily.
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42nd over: Pakistan 127-4 (Saud 42, Rizwan 16) Rizwan continues his invaluable counter-attack by clipping Atkinson through midwicket for three. His busy positivity makes him a particularly dangerous player in low-scoring games.
“Can we bring in Foakes, bat Smith and drop Pope and Crawley,” says Alisdair Gould. “Foakes catches and offers variety of mind as a batsman. Smith is our current hero. Lance Pope and Crawley as the last act prior to the Ashes? The indulgence towards both must stop.”
In fairness, Crawley was England’s best player against the two best teams in the world. I can’t see him being dropped, especially as his game should be perfect for Australian conditions. Pope remains an interesting and slightly confusing case. Also, Lance Pope sounds like an erratic 6ft 8in left-arm quick from Tasmania.
The Rizwan effect. Pakistan scored 26 in 12.2 overs before he arrived; they’ve added 24 in 5.4 since then.
41st over: Pakistan 123-4 (Saud 41, Rizwan 13) Leach hasn’t looked particularly threatening today and is swept decisively for four by Saud; a reminder that he was missed on by 27 by Jamie Smith, a tough chance standing up.
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40th over: Pakistan 117-4 (Saud 36, Rizwan 12) Gus Atkinson comes into the attack, a logical move given how well these two batters play spin. When he offers a bit of width, Rizwan opens the face to glide the ball for four. Nicely done. He has changed the tempo of the innings already.
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39th over: Pakistan 112-4 (Saud 35, Rizwan 8) Blimey. Out of nothing, after a series of exaggerated defensive strokes and leaves, Rizwan slog-sweeps Leach for six. So much for it being a high-risk shot; he absolutely nailed that.
“What is unfolding in Pune ( my home for 7 years) is even more tantalising than this game,” writes Krishnamoorthy V. “New Zealand are to cricket what Roger Federer is to tennis and Armand Duplantis to pole vault. Loved by all, even opponents.”
Swept away for six by Mohammad Rizwan 🙌 pic.twitter.com/lTuq2GqST6
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
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It’s a long morning session, two and a half hours, the players are taking the first drinks break.
WICKET ELSEWHERE! India 103-7 (Ashwin LBW b Santner 4) Can’t spake.
38th over: Pakistan 105-4 (Saud 34, Rizwan 2) Stokes must be really tempted to give Atkinson a couple of overs before Rizwan settles. He’s much better against spin and had a torrid time against Brydon Carse in the first two Tests.
Against that, the ball is doing plenty, particularly for Bashir. He beats Saud with another lovely delivery that dips and grips. Meanwhile…
Watch: Bashir gets Shan with a beauty
Shoaib Bashir makes the breakthrough on Day Two for England 🔥
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
Shan Masood is dismissed for 26 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/QfdMETFN1D
37th over: Pakistan 102-4 (Saud 32, Rizwan 2) A reverse sweep from Saud is anticipated and then stopped by the diving Stokes, a terrific bit of fielding. One run can make the difference.
Saud gets it past Stokes later in the over to bring up Pakistan’s hundred. Rizwan plays a defensive stroke and then waves at the heavens, possibly because the drone camera was too close. He gets off the mark by sweeping Leach for two; England won’t mind him playing that shot.
“Dude,” says Ben Bernards, “can you stop trying to jinx us (NZ) and prompt an Indian revival!?”
I’m just here for the Freudian slips. Sounds like India have some awful shots today.
36th over: Pakistan 99-4 (Saud 32, Rizwan 0) The arrival of Mohammad Rizwan means a left/right-hand combination for Pakistan. You’d expect him to be a lot busier and try to put pressure back on England.
WICKET ELSEWHERE! India 95-6 (Sarfaraz c O’Rourke b Santner 11) The scene of all scenes in Pune: India are still 164 behind, on a Bunsen, knowing defeat means a first home series loss in 12 years.
WICKET! Pakistan 99-4 (Shan c Pope b Bashir 26)
Beautiful bowling from Shoaib Bashir! He’s got Shan Masood exactly the same way as he did in the second innings in Multan, turning one sharply to take the edge as Shan closed the face. Pope, very close at gully, took a really sharp catch. There may be doubts over Pope’s batting but by flip he is a brilliant close fielder.
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35th over: Pakistan 99-3 (Shan 26, Saud 32) Leach has a couple of slightly better LBW shouts against Shakeel. Still not out though; it’s going to be very difficult for him to get LBWs from over the wicket with the ball turning so much.
“After the women became World T20 champions on Sunday, New Zealand continues to amaze, Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “Population 5 million. I still get misty eyed thinking about the incredible dignity and generosity of spirit they showed after the most heartbreaking of defeats to England at Lord’s in 2019.”
Kids, don’t take up sport. Take up baking or something. Die at 60 really fat and happy.
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) July 15, 2019
34th over: Pakistan 99-3 (Shan 26, Saud 32) A low-risk single brings up an excellent fifty partnership comprised largely of low-risk singles. Five runs from Bashir’s over, three singles and a two. England need… something.
33rd over: Pakistan 94-3 (Shan 23, Saud 30) There’s an argument – there are quiet a few – that England cocked up real bad before lunch yesterday, and that if Pakistan bet sensibly, with a nice straight bat, they can eke out a decisive first-innings lead. Ach, who knows. The only certainty is that Pakistan are 173 runs behind.
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Freudian slip of the day
Didn’t think there would be a poorer shit than Kohli’s today. Pant just played it, missing a swipe at a long hop and India are reeling. Three all rounders gives the batting great depth, but Kiwis right on top
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) October 25, 2024
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32nd over: Pakistan 92-3 (Shan 22, Saud 29) Bashir makes it back-to-back maidens, and tjhough England haven’t taken a wicket they do at least have control of the scoreboard: in nine overs this morning there have been only 19 runs.
WICKET ELSEWHERE! India 83-5 (Pant b Phillips 18)
Look, we can’t ignore this. New Zealand could be heading for their first ever series victory in India, who are in all sorts on a pitch that is only going to get worse.
31st over: Pakistan 92-3 (Shan 22, Saud 29) Leach, back over the wicket, has a hopeful LBW appeal against Shan turned down by the umpire Sharfudduola. He was outside the line and there might have been an inside edge as well. That aside, it was plumb.
It’s also an important day for Sharfudduola, who made a couple of strange howlers in the final session yesterday. Both were corrected by DRS but it’ll surely be playing on his mind.
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30th over: Pakistan 92-3 (Shan 21, Saud 30) Bashir beats Shan with a near perfect delivery that pitches on middle and growls past the edge. He’s been England’s main threat in the first 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, this is one of the reasons Gus Atkinson will be needed today.
Pakistan's batting lineup has some great players of spin, especially in the middle order with Saud, Rizwan and Salman all averaging over 70 against spin.
— PakPassion.net (@PakPassion) October 25, 2024
Can this middle order cut England's lead?#PAKvENG | #PakistanCricket | #Cricket pic.twitter.com/csjHWqabFj
29th over: Pakistan 90-3 (Shan 21, Saud 28) It didn’t take Leach long to move around the wicket to the left-handers, an angle that has brought him quite a lot of joy in this series. But Pakistan are playing him well this morning, dealing exclusively in defensive strokes and low-risk singles.
28th over: Pakistan 87-3 (Shan 20, Saud 27) Saud has been dropped by Smith off Bashir. That could be a big moment. It was a tough chance, a big deflection from a leading edge, and it hit Smith on the shinpad. Risk and reward department: Ben Foakes couldn’t have played that magnificent innings yesterday, but he would probably have taken that chance.
Thanks to Russ Whedon for sending the TMS overseas link. “This series has definitely exceeded expectations measured on the Bazball ‘entertainment first’ scale, hasn’t it?” says Russ.
It surely has. The evolution will be complete next winter when Stokes announces before the first Ashes Test that he couldn’t give a stuff about entertaininment or saving Test cricket, he just want to bring the urn home.
Chance for England 🏴
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 25, 2024
Shoaib Bashir finds the edge of Saud Shakeel's bat but Jamie Smith can't hold on ❌ pic.twitter.com/oJ9doU8XN2
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27th over: Pakistan 82-3 (Shan 18, Saud 23) Erm, folks, something historic may be unfolding in Pune.
New Zealand 259
India 72/4 (Jaiswal has just surrendered to Glenn Phillips’ golden arm)
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26th over: Pakistan 81-3 (Shan 18, Saud 22) Saud cuts Bashir very nicely for four. He’s a real threat to England today, an outstanding player of spin, and I half expected Gus Atkinson to start at Leach’s end because of that.
Shan looks less comfortable against Bashir and edges short of Stokes at slip. He pushed with hard hands and the ball still landed well short.
“While waiting for play to start I’ve been reading Walter Isaacson’s marvellous biography of Steve Jobs,” writes Kim Thonger. “Jobs had a habit of creating a reality distortion field around himself, in which he would bend truth just enough to win any argument. This strikes me as the same approach really good spin bowlers take. The batsman is never quite sure what’s real and what’s trickery. There is no mention yet of Jobs turning out for the Cupertino XI on Sundays, but maybe Walter is keeping it up his sleeve for the closing chapters.”
The old zootermeister, Shane Warne, was so good at that. There’s a brilliant passage in Kevin Pietersen’s book, On Cricket, about how Warne worked over both the batters and the umpires.
25th over: Pakistan 76-3 (Shan 18, Saud 17) The one advantage of batting second on a wearing pitch is that you can learn from the opposition’s first innings. England lost five wickets before they twigged that the sweep is a high-risk shot on such a slow, low pitch, and since then the batters on both sides have generally played with a straight bat.
Jack Leach’s first over is a quiet, exploratory affair; two singles from it.
24th over: Pakistan 74-3 (Shan 17, Saud 16) A lovely start from Bashir, whose first ball curves onto middle stump and straightens sharply. Shan does pretty well to drop a thick edge just short of Pope, who is very close and under the helmet at gully.
Shan gets another thick edge later in the over, this time all along the ground. He’s definitely a candidate for an edge playing against the spin.
The players are ready for action in Rawalpindi. In other news, Virat Kohli has just been bowled by a full toss and India are in a bit of bother against New Zealand in Pune. If New Zealand win the second Test they’ll become the first team to win a series in India since England 12 years ago.
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Here, have you heard this? It might just be one of the greatest debut singles in the history of forever.
“As you ease yourself into the new day, an interesting innings by Western Australia has just unfolded in the Australian one-day competition,” says Phil Withall. “Somehow they managed to lose eight wickets for one run, being bowled out for just 53. Spectacular achievement I’m sure you’ll agree...”
Amazing! I completely missed that. It reminds me a little bit of that astonishing Surrey collapse against Lancashire in 1993, which in some ways was even worse because they were so close to victory.
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Read Ali Martin on Adam Gilchr Jamie Smith
Over the course of his sparkling 89 he once again showed the class and composure that marks him out as a player of considerable promise. Victim to a couple of rash yahoos in the second Test, Smith was content to first take a look, soaking up 32 balls for nine runs and playing chiefly with a straight bat. Unlike a couple of colleagues higher up, the 24-year-old appeared to trust his defence.
Scorecard aficionados, this one’s for you
The reigning champions have been bundled out for 53 by Tasmania, losing EIGHT wickets for ONE run (a wide) 😱😱 #WAvTAS
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 25, 2024
Scorecard: https://t.co/YjVX6RjFj7 pic.twitter.com/t2rdrNd8pB
Read Simon Burnton’s report on day one
From the sport that once brought you leg theory, this was more like chaos theory. Before this week nobody knew what you would get if you spent the buildup to a game roasting the pitch in a makeshift fan oven. It turns out the answer is wickets, 13 of them falling on an opening day of drama and frequent befuddlement.
Preamble
This is the day, folks. By 1pm BST/5pm PKT we should have a strong idea who is going to win this intriguing series. For now it remains too close to call with any certainty. Pakistan will resume on 73 for 3, a deficit of 194 on a pitch that has had all the bounce and pace baked out of it.
The case for England is that they have runs on the board on a pitch that could go at any moment; the case for Pakistan is that, in England’s first innings, batting became less uncomfortable after around 35 overs as the ball started to age. Pakistan’s innings is 23 overs old, which means only one thing: Big First Hour coming up. Really big.
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