Rob Smyth's Blog, page 136

Huddersfield Town 0-3 Manchester City: Premier League – as it happened

City were sloppy in the first half, but two goals in three minutes from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling secured an easy victory

3.41pm GMT

Danny Taylor’s match report has landed, so I shall leave you with that. Thanks for your company, bye!

3.33pm GMT

Post-match interviews

Leroy Sane

3.24pm GMT

There’s another Premier League match today, and you can follow it on your screen of choice with Gregg Bakowski.

3.23pm GMT

Peep peep! An easy win for Manchester City, who were complacent in the first half but settled the game with two goals in three minutes just after the break. Huddersfield worked hard and created a few opportunities, but City were in control for most of the match. They move back to within four points of Liverpool in this relentless, compelling title race.

3.22pm GMT

90+4 min Mounie misses a sitter with the last kick of the match, slicing wide on the turn from inside the six-yard box!

3.19pm GMT

90 min There will be three additional minutes of background entertainment.

3.16pm GMT

86 min A great chance for City to make it 4-0. David Silva slides the ball through to Bernardo Silva, who slaps a right-footed shot straight at the outrushing Lossl.

3.14pm GMT

85 min A bit of olé football from ... Huddersfield, who put together 15 or so consecutive passes to the mock delight of their fans.

3.11pm GMT

82 min Another good effort from Mounie, whose header from Pritchard’s right-wing cross is comfortably saved to his left by Ederson.

3.09pm GMT

81 min Meanwhile, get a load of this!

3.08pm GMT

80 min City make their final change. Fabian Delph replaces Ilkay Gundogan.

3.08pm GMT

79 min A lovely effort from Mounie, who moves infield from the left and hits an extravagant curling shot from 20 yards that beats Ederson and flashes just wide of the far post.

3.07pm GMT

78 min Those two quick goals at the start of the second half killed this game completely. Both sides look like they are waiting for the final whistle, and I know how they feel.

3.05pm GMT

77 min Correction: Jan Siewert’s doppelganger is at the ground today. Apparently it’s actually John Morris, David Wagner’s agent.

3.04pm GMT

76 min Danilo shoots well wide from distance.

3.04pm GMT

75 min Jan Siewert, the Borussia Dortmund Under-23 coach who has been linked with the Huddersfield job, is at the ground today.

3.00pm GMT

72 min Another City change, with Bernardo Silva replacing the excellent Leroy Sane. Sterling has moved to the left wing.

2.59pm GMT

70 min “When,” says Ian Copestake, “is the next time City play anyone actually good?”

If you mean a top-six team, you vile elitist, they play Arsenal two weeks today. Liverpool play West Ham away the following night. Flip just got real.

2.58pm GMT

68 min Pep Guardiola still isn’t entirely happy, and is doing some kind of David Brent dance on the touchline.

2.54pm GMT

65 min Pritchard angles a long pass towards Mounie. The last man Otamendi lunges at the ball and misses, but Ederson comes to the edge of his area to collect in front of Mounie.

2.52pm GMT

64 min Another City change: Juninho Bacuna is replaced by Alex Pritchard.

2.51pm GMT

62 min This could get messy for Huddersfield, who haven’t crossed the halfway line at all in the last few minutes.

2.49pm GMT

60 min The gap at the top is back to four points. City’s next match is away to Newcastle; Liverpool’s is at home to Leicester.

2.47pm GMT

59 min A substitution apiece: David Silva replaces Fernandinho for City, while Huddersfield bring on Steve Mounie for Adama Diakhaby.

2.46pm GMT

58 min De Bruyne heads Danilo’s cross over the bar from 15 yards. City’s aggregate score in their last four games is now 22-0.

2.45pm GMT

Sane made one and now he’s scored one. Danilo lobbed a first-time pass towards the edge of the area, where Aguero cushioned an excellent header infield to meet the underlapping run of Sane. He surged into the area and bobbled the ball past Lossl with the minimum of fuss. Lovely goal.

2.43pm GMT

City double their lead with a classy (but offside) goal. De Bruyne angles a pass to Sane, who gets the ball out of his feet and flashes an excellent cross into the six-yard box, where Sterling dives forward to head the ball into the net. Sane was fractionally offside in the build-up but it wasn’t given.

2.41pm GMT

51 min Though City have been a little better since half-time, they still look like they are playing in plimsolls. I don’t know whether it’s something to do with the pitch. LOOK I SAID I DON’T KNOW, OKAY.

2.39pm GMT

50 min Fernandinho gets his yellow card for bumping Bacuna over the touchline.

2.38pm GMT

49 min City have been a bit sharper since half-time. Sterling plays a one-two with De Bruyne and lifts a cross that is well claimed by Lossl.

2.36pm GMT

48 min De Bruyne’s wicked cross from a narrow position is headed behind by Schindler. Nothing comes of the corner.

2.34pm GMT

47 min “Talking of vinyls: happy birthday to drummer Jimmy Cobb, who turns 90 today,” writes Henrik. “Only survivor of the band on Miles Davis’s ‘Kind of Blue’ album.”

2.34pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! City, fresh from a heartfelt brollocking from Pep Guardiola, begin the second half.

2.33pm GMT

David Wagner’s farewell message was successfully played on the big screen at half-time, and received as warmly as you’d expect. He and Huddersfield should, although they won’t, become the model for managerial departures

2.20pm GMT

Half-time reading

2.18pm GMT

Peep peep! Manchester City lead, and have controlled the game, but they have been miles below their best. Pep Guardiola’s body language suggests they are in for a spectacular roasting in the next 10 minutes. See you soon for the second half.

2.18pm GMT

45+2 min Walker plays a nice pass down the side to Gundogan, who drives wide of the near post from a tight angle. It wasn’t much of a chance.

2.15pm GMT

44 min Pep Guardiola is in a proper funk now. He has the look of a man who has just found out that his dear old Mum has given all his rare Smiths vinyl to the binmen.

2.13pm GMT

43 min Hogg is booked for a late tackle on Fernandinho.

2.12pm GMT

42 min “Hi Rob,” says Matt Collins. “Thanks so much for reminding me of David James playing up front. I was at that game. At one point, the ball fell invitingly to him in Boro’s box. He smelled the glory of securing us Uefa Cup football, took a swing with his right foot and missed the ball by so much that he scythed a Boro player down and conceded a foul instead. The whole thing was so very City of the time.”

I miss Cityitis. Actually I must get Tim Rich’s new book on City in the 1990s, which looks really good. Anyone read it?

2.11pm GMT

40 min That’s more like City. Fernandinho drives a pass over the top for Gundogan, who takes the ball down in mid-air before spinning to hit a shot that deflects just wide of the near post.

2.08pm GMT

38 min You don’t need a PhD in the body language of Josep Guardiola Sala to know he’s got a cob on right now. He is ranting or raving, but he doesn’t have a face for poker.

2.06pm GMT

36 min “Why isn’t Billing in the Huddersfield team?” asks Henrik. “Is he billed elsewhere?”

In the treatment room.

2.05pm GMT

34 min City have taken control again after that dodgy five minutes. Huddersfield are well organised in a 4-5-0-1 formation, though, and are always ready to spring out on the counter-attack.

2.03pm GMT

32 min Mark Hudson will probably be the happier manager at this stage. I don’t know whether it’s complacency, tiredness or the effects of a rogue 2am Deliveroo, but City have been a bit sluggish.

2.00pm GMT

29 min This is an excellent spell for Huddersfield. Diakhaby robs Fernandinho and then beats his attempted recovery challenge before cutting a cross back towards Bacuna at the near post. Laporte makes an excellent, possibly goal-saving clearance and takes a hit from Bacuna for his pains. Bacuna is booked.

1.59pm GMT

28 min Bacuna’s long ball forward is cushioned nicely by Kachunga into the path of Kongolo, whose well-struck shot from 20 yards is comfortably saved by Ederson.

1.57pm GMT

27 min Walker is booked for a late and thoroughly inept tackle on Lowe. Huddersfield fans ask for a red card but it was no more than a yellow.

1.56pm GMT

25 min City have been a bit sloppy, despite their dominance, and Pep Guardiola’s visage suggests he is not entirely enamoured with their levels of concentration and intensity.

1.52pm GMT

22 min City work a short corner to Fernandinho, whose shot is deflected behind for another corner. This one is curled straight to the near post, where the unmarked Fernandinho heads wide. That was a good chance. He was in plenty of space because Otamendi blocked his marker off the ball.

1.51pm GMT

20 min That was City’s 100th goal of the season in all competitions. They’ve come a long way since the days of playing David James up front.

1.48pm GMT

And that’s Blockbusters. Walker plays a long square pass to Danilo, who moves the ball onto his right foot and hits a stinging long-range shot that deflects in off the head of Schindler and wrongfoots Lossl. I think that’s an own-goal as it seemed to be going just wide off the near post before the intervention of Schindler’s noggin.

1.46pm GMT

17 min “If City have all the ball,” writes Adrian Riley, “how come your match stats say possession is 50-50? And did Kachunga really try a header from his own cross?”

1) They are wrong.

1.46pm GMT

16 min Sterling is being booed now.

1.45pm GMT

14 min With some penalty appeals, you can understand why the referee gets it wrong - his view might be obscured, or it might look at first glance that the ball was taken. In this case, I have no idea what Andre Marriner saw, as it was a clear foul.

1.43pm GMT

13 min De Bruyne slides a majestic pass through to Sterling, who is taken out in the area by Kongolo. It’s a clear penalty - yet Andre Marriner waves play on. Sterling is livid, rightly so.

1.41pm GMT

12 min Nothing much to report. City are having all of the ball but they haven’t yet been at their sharpest.

1.38pm GMT

8 min A half chance for

Kachunga
Diakhaby, who mistimes a header from Kachunga’s flat cross and shoulders the ball well wide. City were a little lackadaisical in the defence there.

1.37pm GMT

7 min Huddersfield have shown good intent on the break, if not yet the necessary quality. They are getting the ball straight out to the wide players so that they can try to take the shortest route to goal.

1.35pm GMT

5 min It’s all City. They have had 85 per cent of the possesion, which gives them about 77 per cent of the law.

1.33pm GMT

3 min An early half-chance for Aguero. He moves into the area onto a return pass from Sterling and goes past Hogg before losing his balance and slicing wide of the near post.

1.31pm GMT

1 min A poor ball from Fernandinho goes straight to Kachunga, who tries to run Laporte and falls over. Huddersfield thought there was a foul; the referee Andre Marriner did not.

1.30pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Huddersfield kick off from right to left. They are in blue-and-white stripes; City are in purple.

1.29pm GMT

An email! “It would be churlish indeed,” writes Dexter Stern, “to chide you for forgetting a City 6-1 spanking, Rob.”

You call 6-1 a pasting? By City’s recent standards that’s an even contest.

1.22pm GMT

My beloved euphemism

David Wagner's farewell message to the Huddersfield fans was due to be flashed up on the big screen here, but it hit "technical difficulties". Sums up the way things have gone for the Terriers this season. #MCFC

1.01pm GMT

Yes, yes, I am a buffoon, for I totally forgot Manchester City 6-1 Huddersfield earlier this season. Ach. In my defence, I didn’t cover that game. I can’t be bloody expected to remember everything!

Oh.

1.00pm GMT

This is the best thing I’ve read so far this year. Treat yourself, it’s Sunday.

I wrote a long piece for @ringer about football, memory, words and human beings – based around USA beating England at the 1950 World Cup. Also features an exclusive interview with the late, great Walter Bahr, USA captain https://t.co/BkLPQRDWU1

12.58pm GMT

Huddersfield are one of the few teams who haven’t taken a pasting from Pep Guardiola’s City. Last season they lost 2-1 at home, having taken the lead, and drew 0-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

12.55pm GMT

Some more pre-match reading

12.38pm GMT

Pre-match reading

If you want a job done properly, get Paul Doyle to do it

12.34pm GMT

Huddersfield (4-2-3-1) Lossl; Smith, Schindler, Kongolo, Lowe; Bacuna, Hogg, Kachunga, Puncheon, Mpenza; Diakhaby.
Substitutes: Hamer, Zanka, Durm, Pritchard, Hadergjonaj, Depoitre, Mounie.

Manchester City (2-3-2-3) Ederson; Otamendi, Laporte; Walker, Fernandinho, Danilo; De Bruyne, Gundogan; Sterling, Aguero, Sane.
Substitutes: Muric, Stones, Delph, B Silva, D Silva, Jesus, Foden.

12.07pm GMT

Hello, good afternoon and welcome to inclusively live coverage of Huddersfield Town v Manchester City. This match should be one of two things: tomorrow’s chip paper, or next month’s commemorative DVD. If Manchester City win, as expected, nobody will bat an eyelid, the title race will be as you were and Huddersfield will be one game closer to relegation.

That, almost certainly, is what will happen. There was something touching about the dignity and class with which David Wagner’s departure was handled. But because he went on such good terms, there is less likely to be a caretaker-manager bounce.

View more on Rob Smyth's website »

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Published on January 20, 2019 07:41

Brighton 0-1 Liverpool, Leicester 1-2 Southampton and more – as it happened

Mohamed Salah’s penalty put Liverpool seven points clear at the top, Burnley beat Fulham 2-1 despite having no shots on target and 10-man Southampton earned a vital victory

6.10pm GMT

One for luck: it’s the Football League roundup:

5.29pm GMT

That’s it for today’s Clockwatch. I’ll leave you in the tender hands of Scott Murray, who is following Chelsea v Newcastle. Goodnight!

5.22pm GMT

Crystal Palace 1-2 Watford Our last Premier League report has landed, and it’s another tale of woe for poor old Roy.

5.17pm GMT

This afternoon’s results mean Newcastle have dropped into the relegation places ahead of their match at Chelsea. You can follow that with Scott Murray.

5.14pm GMT

Leiceter 1-2 Southampton Stuart James’s match report from the King Power Stadium has landed.

5.13pm GMT

And here’s Ralph Hasenhuttl

“Longy was perfect today – he worked very hard and played a big part in both goals. We tried to be very compact in the second half but 50 minutes is a long time to be a man down. The players enjoyed the challenge. The longer the game went on, the more stable they were and that was the key to our success.”

5.11pm GMT

Here’s Jurgen

“It was a hard-earned victory. It was a massive, massive game today - everyone knows how Brighton play, and so you have to be creative against a very organised side. I thought it was an unbelievable, mature performance of my side, and I like that because that’s a new skill this season. We learned from the first half and the second half was much better. I like the performance – it was not an opera of football but it’s still a really nice song.

5.08pm GMT

More match reports!

5.06pm GMT

Match reports

Paul Doyle was at the Amex Stadium to see Liverpool go seven points clear at the top of the Premier League.

4.59pm GMT

Crikey, that was a bit frenetic. You can check all the results across Britain and Europe by clicking here, but here are a few scores of note in the Football League:

Championship

4.57pm GMT

“That feels like a massive win for Liverpool,” says Niall Mullen. “The title chasing teams that lost at home to Coventry or drew 4-4 against Arsenal or 3-3 at Palace probably wouldn’t have had enough in the tank to win today. I think there’s something different about these boys. Something that will probably ratchet up the heartbreak but still...”

Yes, if they don’t win it, it’ll surely be down to a lack of goals rather than the tragifarcical defending of old. (Unless Alisson and/or van Dijk suffer long-term injury, in which I’m getting out the laughter track and the popcorn.

4.55pm GMT

Another terrific win for this admirable Watford side, who move up to seventh in the table.

4.55pm GMT

You’ll like this department Burnley, who beat Fulham 2-1, had no shots on target. Both their goals were own goals.

4.53pm GMT

What a superb victory for Southampton, who had 10 men throughout the second half. Claude Puel’s name may be appearing on a P45 in the next few days.

4.53pm GMT

Game of the season, end of.

4.52pm GMT

A big win for Burnley, who may be starting to extricate themselves from the malodorous stuff.

4.52pm GMT

Liverpool move seven points clear with a scruffy but deserved victory over Brighton!

4.50pm GMT

League Two: Bury 4-3 MK Dons (Adams 90) Oh my numbers! Bury, who were 3-1 down after 72 minutes, lead MK Dons 4-3!

4.49pm GMT

Brighton 0-1 Liverpool Four minutes of added time at Brighton. Jurgen Klopp is pacing around nervously.

4.47pm GMT

Championship Reading lead Nottingham Forest 2-0 (goals) and 11-9 (men).

4.46pm GMT

4.45pm GMT

Cardiff 0-0 Huddersfield There’s been one shot on target in the match.

4.45pm GMT

Brighton 0-1 Liverpool Salah misses a great chance to seal the match, inexplicably shooting wide from eight yards.

4.43pm GMT

A couple of important goals in the Championship:

4.43pm GMT

“Salah is a great player who scores plenty wonderful goals and will likely actually win some titles with Liverpool,” says Phil Podolsky. “For the neutrals, however, Suarez’s absurd genius for things like that goal v Newcastle may never be matched.”

That goal against Newcastle is one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen on a football field.

4.40pm GMT

As things stand, Watford will move top of the Premier League Second Division, known colloquially as ‘seventh place’. Javi Gracia has done some job at Vicarage Road.

4.39pm GMT

Championship Adams has equalised for Birmingham at home to Middlesbrough, while Michael Jacobs has put Wigan 2-0 up at home to comatose giant Aston Villa.

4.38pm GMT

League Two: Bury 3-3 MK Dons Danny Mayor has equalised for Bury at Gigg Lane!

4.37pm GMT

Brighton 0-1 Liverpool Wijnaldum shoots just wide for Liverpool, who remain uncomfortably comfortable at Brighton.

4.36pm GMT

Cardiff 0-0 Huddersfield The referee Lee Mason gives Huddersfield a penalty for a foul on Hadergjonaj, then consults the assistant and changes his mind. We’ll hear more about that, I’m sure.

4.35pm GMT

The substitute Tom Cleverley has given Watford the lead at Selhurst Park.

4.32pm GMT

Crystal Palace 1-1 Watford James McArthur has missed a great chance for Palace. Meanwhile, in League One, Luton’s Danny Hylton has been sent off at Sunderland. The score is still 1-1.

4.31pm GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson used to say that 1-0s win titles, so I’m sure he’ll be thrilled with the score at Brighton. Liverpool still look

comfortable
in control of the game.

4.29pm GMT

“Peak Suarez was absolutely unbelievable (ask Norwich!), and I hope Salah can step up to that level,” says Matt Dony. “I never loved him like I loved Torres, though. If Salah’s goals do eventually deliver the league title, he’ll be up there. But, there will probably always be a part of me wistfully looking towards Madrid...”

That’s the thing. If Liverpool win the league, even Alberto Moreno will be immortal, so goodness knows what status Salah will have if his goals take them to the title.

4.28pm GMT

League One: Sunderland 1-1 Luton A James Collins penalty has brought Sunderland level in the big game at the Stadium of Light.

4.27pm GMT

Craig Cathcart has scored at both ends! He put Palace ahead with an own goal in the first half, and now he has equalised for Watford in the same goal.

4.25pm GMT

Brighton 0-1 Liverpool Jurgen Klopp’s side are still in control of the game at the Amex Stadium. I was going to say they’re comfortable, but I doubt anybody with even the most tenuous connection to Liverpool Football Club will be comfortable while the lead is only one goal.

4.22pm GMT

“Speaking of the 2013-14 Liverpool side, I haven’t seen many, if any, comparisons being made between Salah and you know who, so I might as well make one only to angrily dismiss it as misplaced cause that’s how everyone talks online these days,” says Phil Podolsky. “Peak Suarez is surely an impossible standard for a centre-forward, differences in the overall quality of the two teams aside.”

Yes, I wouldn’t put Salah in Suarez’s class yet. The next few months might change that, mind.

4.20pm GMT

Premier League It’s still Cardiff 0-0 Huddersfield - and that’s shots on target, never mind goals.

4.20pm GMT

Brighton 0-1 Liverpool Fabinho, the emergency centre-back, has made an excellent block to deny Pascal Gross.

4.18pm GMT

League Two Michael Doughty has pulled one back for Swindon at home to Lincoln, who are now down to nine men after Jason Shackell was sent off. It’s Swindon 1-2 Lincoln.

4.17pm GMT

“Update on the nerves for Ian Copestake,” says Matt Dony. “They’re slightly better after news of Salah’s goal. BUT I have Gross in my fantasy team, so slightly bittersweet. Fantasy Football is incredibly effective at ruining football.”

4.16pm GMT

Wilfred Ndidi has scored with his thigh to bring Leicester back in the game against 10-man Southampton. Claude Paul’s employment status may depend on what happens in the next half an hour.

4.13pm GMT

League Two: Bury 1-3 MK Dons Yet another own goal, this time from Bury’s Chris Stokes, means MK Dons have a two-goal cushion in the big League Two match at Gigg Lane.

4.12pm GMT

As you doubtless know, and therefore I’m not sure why I’m bothering to tell you, a win would put Liverpool seven points clear of Manchester City, who plays at home to Wolves on Monday.

4.10pm GMT

“Not quite a hat-trick of own goals but still very impressive: Chris Nicholl scored all four goals in 2-2 draw for Villa in 1976,” says Joe Hunt in Melbourne.

I remember it well. I mean, I don’t remember it.

4.09pm GMT

“Clockwatch and Christine and the Queens through the headphones makes for a top Saturday afternoon,” says Steve Horne.

It’s ‘horny’ football writing, that’s why.

4.06pm GMT

The leaders are ahead! A brainless tackle by Pascal Gross on Mohamed Salah gives Liverpool a penalty - and Salah scores! Button almost kept it out, but he didn’t, so there you are.

4.04pm GMT

Brighton 0-0 Liverpool The first shot on target of the match comes at the start of the second half, with Mo Salah drawing a decent save from David Button.

4.03pm GMT

“Fraude Puel,” says Graham Randall. “Tad childish but time for him to go. Three defensive midfielders. At home. Not for me.”

France won Euro 2000 with three defensive midfielders at home, so maybe he’s paying tribute.

3.50pm GMT

Half-time scores

Premier League

3.49pm GMT

“Dear Rob,” says Jason Ali. “Related to the two own goals in the Burnley-Fulham match, has anyone scored an own-goal hat-trick (not deliberate)? The chances must be very low, but enough formally played games have occurred that it could have happened. Hopefully an ‘anorak’ will know the answer.”

That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said about me. Stan van den Buys is the hat-trick villain you seek.

3.47pm GMT

Southampton’s ten men have doubled their lead! Another mistake from Mendy allows Shane Long to do what he does best. Okay, what he does every now and then: score a goal. There is some suggestion his shot was going wide until Kasper Schmeichel’s touch diverted it on target, so that may be yet another Premier League own-goal today.

3.46pm GMT

Brighton 0-0 Liverpool It’s half-time on the south coast, where Liverpool are struggling to break down Brighton’s excellent defence.

3.45pm GMT

Southampton’s young wing-back Yann Valery has been sent off for two yellow cards at Leicester. Southampton lead 1-0 in goals, Leicester lead 11-10 in men.

3.40pm GMT

Championship Sheffield United 1-0 QPR (McGoldrick 37) David McGoldrick has put Sheffield United into the lead at Bramall Lane, and as things stand they will move up to second.

3.40pm GMT

Championship: Birmingham 0-1 Middlesbrough Lewis Wing’s calm finish has given Boro a deserved lead at St Andrew’s.

3.39pm GMT

An almighty comedy scramble ends with a Craig Cathcart own goal giving Crystal Palace the lead.

3.37pm GMT

League Two: Bury 1-2 MK Dons (Lewington 36) Bury were level for approximately two minutes.

3.36pm GMT

Sol Campbell’s Macclesfield now lead 2-0 at Grimsby. He is shutting a few people up, isn’t he.

3.35pm GMT

League Two: Bury 1-1 MK Dons Bury’s Jay O’Shea, who missed a penalty earlier in the match, has equalised for from the spot against his old club.

3.34pm GMT

Championship There haven’t been many goals so far:

3.32pm GMT

“Hey Rob,” says J.R. in Illinois. “In the ‘unsurprising news’ department Will Hughes has suffered a suspected concussion and is out of the game. This seemed to surprise Tony Gale though as he felt surely it should be up to the concussed player as to whether or not he stayed in the game. Hmmmm.”

What I love about Clockwatch is that it has revolutionised sports coverages – the readers tell the journalist what is happening rather than the other way round. Thank you, my Guardian!

3.29pm GMT

“A very tasty battle developing between Murray (who is that type of player) and Fabinho who is not a defender,” says Jeremy Dresner. “Both have elbowed each other in the face now.”

And why not?

3.28pm GMT

Brighton 0-0 Liverpool Saying which, Xherdan Shaqiri has headed just wide from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s left-footed cross.

3.26pm GMT

Brighton 0-0 Liverpool Brighton are struggling to get the ball, never mind keep it, but their superb defensive organisation has kept Liverpool at arms length so far.

3.25pm GMT

Two own goals in three minutes! Denis Odoi heads past his own goalkeeper to give Burnley the lead. I wonder what Michael Proctor makes of it all.

3.22pm GMT

Jeff Hendrick’s shot deflects off Joe Bryan and beats Sergio Rico. Burnley are level - and, as things stand, back out of the relegation zone.

3.19pm GMT

League One Chris Maguire has scored for Sunderland, who lead Luton 1-0 in the match between third and second. Or second and third if it stays like this.

3.18pm GMT

Burnley 0-1 Fulham Chris Wood has hit the post with a header for Burnley, who are coming back into the game after a difficult start.

3.17pm GMT

Brighton 0-0 Liverpool Glenn Murray has missed a decent chance for Brighton, heading Pascal Gross’s cross over the bar from 12 yards.

3.16pm GMT

The latest scores in this afternoon’s big games

Premier League

3.15pm GMT

Championship Dwight Gayle has made it West Brom 1-0 Norwich in the promotion clash at the Hawthorns.

3.15pm GMT

“Hey Rob,” says JR in Illinois. “With every game available to watch I have chosen Palace v Watford. I’m expecting a bloodbath and haven’t been disappointed early on. Five seconds in Kouyate jumped and tried to hurt Deeney by embedding his knee into Deeney’s back but ended up getting hurt himself because Deeney’s arm caught him in the breadbasket. After 90 seconds of treatment Will Hughes was crunched to the ground by Sako. In the words of Mr. T, ‘Prediction? Pain.’”

3.14pm GMT

Brighton 0-0 Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold is continuing and may be able to run off his ankle injury. Liverpool have had 88 per cent possession so far.

3.12pm GMT

James Ward-Prowse has given Southampton the lead from the penalty spot after Nampalys Mendy’s needless foul on Shane Long.

3.10pm GMT

Jordan Moore-Taylor has given MK Dons the lead at Bury in the big League Two match. Meanwhile, Roberto Firmino has missed a good chance for Liverpool at Brighton.

3.09pm GMT

Since you asked: no, Schurrle’s goal wasn’t a volley. But it was a belter.

3.08pm GMT

Brighton 0-0 Liverpool So far Liverpool have had almost all of the ball at the Amex, though they haven’t really got beyond Brighton.

3.05pm GMT

Brighton 0-0 Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold did start the game but he’s struggling with an ankle problem and James Milner is warming up.

3.04pm GMT

Crystal Palace 0-0 Watford But Watford should be ahead - Deulofeu and Pereyra have hit the post in the same attack!

3.03pm GMT

Andre Schurrle has given

Burnley
Fulham an early lead with a scorching goal, smashed in off the underside of the bar!

2.58pm GMT

Brighton v Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold had an injury scare during the warm-up but it looks like he’s going to start. Liverpool are already very short in defence, with Fabinho playing at centre back today. They do have good cover at right-back, though, with James Milner and Rafael Camacho on the bench.

2.57pm GMT

Not long until kick-off now. A win at Brighton would take Liverpool seven points clear at the top; a drew or defeat would not.

2.51pm GMT

#LCFC pic.twitter.com/vP03aIidPW

2.43pm GMT

2.39pm GMT

“To be frank for a minute,” says Ian Copestake, “draws have been the new losses since everyone who is not United had unbeaten runs. I await a report from Matt Dony on the true state of a Liverpool fan’s nerves. Yours, Frank.”

2.22pm GMT

The early kick-off has finished West Ham 1-0 Arsenal. It was a deserved win for West Ham, who move up to eighth in the table.

2.17pm GMT

Leicester v Southampton team news

Leicester City (4-3-3) Schmeichel; Pereira, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell; Choudhury, Mendy, Ndidi; Albrighton, Vardy, Maddison.
Substitutes: Ward, Simpson, Soyuncu, Gray, Ghezzal, Barnes, Iheanacho.

2.15pm GMT

Crystal Palace v Watford team news

Crystal Palace (4-3-3) Guaita; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur; Townsend, Ayew, Zaha.
Substitutes: Hennessey, Ward, Schlupp, Kelly, Meyer, Benteke, Wickham.

2.12pm GMT

Cardiff v Huddersfield team news

Cardiff (4-1-4-1) Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson; Mendez-Laing, Arter, Camarasa, Hoilett; Paterson.
Substitutes: Smithies, Peltier, Cunningham, Ralls, Murphy, Reid, Healey.

2.10pm GMT

Burnley v Fulham team news

Burnley (4-4-2) Heaton; Bardsley, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor; Hendrick, Cork, Westwood, McNeil; Wood, Barnes.
Substitutes: Hart, Lowton, Gibson, Long, Defour, Vokes, Vydra.

2.08pm GMT

Brighton v Liverpool team news

Brighton (4-2-3-1) Button; Montoya, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; Stephens, Propper; March, Gross, Locadia; Murray.
Substitutes: Steele, Bruno, Balogun, Kayal, Knockaert, Sanders, And one.

2.05pm GMT

An email! “I agree with your nuanced take on my beloved Liverpool but the problem is until we break our Premier League duck it all just means a bit too much,” says Niall Mullen. “It’s why in 2013-14 Gerrard ended up screaming like a maniac at his team mates to keep their nerve. It feels like Van Dijk and Salah have a little more ice in the veins so I remain optimistic yet terrified. Tell you what I’d really enjoy, should it ever happen: a title race after we win the title. Losing your title virginity is nerve-racking and you can’t really control yourself. But when you’re having regular title races you can really relax and enjoy it.”

Trust me, you really can’t. Okay, I suppose you can enjoy it, in the same way you can enjoy a visit to a malevolent drunk dentist if you’re of a certain disposition, but I’m not sure you can ever relax unless you are umpteen points ahead, in which case it isn’t really a race at all.

1.47pm GMT

In the early game, Declan Rice has made it West Ham 1-0 Arsenal. Scott Murray has the latest.

1.44pm GMT

Some pre-team-news reading

1.06pm GMT

Hello. It’s the question every football fan has been asking for the last few months. Can Liverpool, after all this time, finally get their hands on it? One way or another, we’ll find out today. Yes, if Liverpool fail to beat Brighton, they will become the new owners of the Premier League Crisis Baton™.

Our not entirely mature culture dictates that, at all times, at least one Premier League club must be in crisis. At the moment Huddersfield hold the baton of doom, but if Liverpool fail to win today – on the back of a despicable run of two straight defeats in all competitions – they will be the ones under scrutiny. To hell with nuance; to hell with the fact they played well at Manchester City, that the Wolves defeat meant very little, and that a draw or defeat at a Brighton side who are very good at home would not exacty represent the second coming of Devon Loch.

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Published on January 12, 2019 09:29

Wolves 2-1 Liverpool: FA Cup third round – as it happened

Ruben Neves’s beautiful goal and an immense save from John Ruddy gave Wolves a deserved victory over a listless Liverpool at Molineux

9.53pm GMT

Daniel Taylor’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company and emails, goodnight!

9.42pm GMT

Post-match interviews

Conor Coady “It was always going to be a nervy end, but we stood tall against a good team and it’s a great victory for everybody. We had a gameplan and we were outstanding – we moved the ball well and scored two outstanding goals.”

9.39pm GMT

It was an enjoyable game, settled by Ruben Neves’s sizzling goal. Liverpool were a bit listless, though the 16-year-old debutant Ki-Jana Hoever showed immense promise in the centre of defence.

9.38pm GMT

Wait!

You can follow the draw for the fourth round right here, right now.

9.37pm GMT

Wolves are into the fourth round and Liverpool are out of the FA Cup!

9.37pm GMT

90+3 min Milner’s corner is headed clear. Mignolet is still forward, and now Liverpool have a free-kick near the halfway line. It’s played short to Salah, who crosses hopefully into the area. Fabinho gets to the ball first but only head tamely through to Ruddy from 10 yards. It wasn’t much of a chance.

9.36pm GMT

90+2 min Salah tries to wriggle past Coady, who concedes a corner. Mignolet is coming forward...

9.34pm GMT

90 min There will be three minutes of added time.

9.33pm GMT

89 min It’s been fairly close but Wolves would be deserved winners. They picked a stronger team and they’ve been the stronger team.

9.32pm GMT

88 min At the other end, Cavaleiro overhits a through pass to Vinagre. That was a trickier pass than Keita’s at the other end, so curb your opprobrium.

9.31pm GMT

86 min “Most of Liverpool’s earthier pubs will be full of Evertonians,” says Mark Leadbeater, “so proffer away.”

The point stands, surely.

9.30pm GMT

85 min That Salah half-chance came from a thrilling piece of play from Hoever, who won the ball in his own area and marched 40 yards before finding Shaqiri.

9.28pm GMT

84 min The first bit of life from Salah, who zips infield from the right and hits a deflected shot which is headed away by Bennett. That might have been going in. Moments later, Keita has a chance to play Salah through but grossly overhits a relatively simple pass.

9.28pm GMT

83 min A Wolves change: Helder Costa replaces the excellent Raul Jimenez, who scored a good goal and worked his organs off.

9.27pm GMT

82 min Origi wins a corner for Liverpool. It amounts to nowt, and then Camacho again shoots wide from long range. That was a better effort, which whistled a few yards wide of the far post.

9.25pm GMT

80 min It’s not necessarily an opinion I’d proffer just after last orders in some of Liverpool’s earthier public houses, but I think this would probably be a good result for both sides.

9.23pm GMT

79 min It’s all Liverpool now, though Wolves are comfortable playing on the counter-attack. Camacho tries an impatient shot from miles out which drifts well wide.

9.22pm GMT

77 min “I read the Hoever in the line up as a typo of Whoever, which I’d presumed was the new form of squad filler, as in the old A.Another when you couldn’t be bothered listing a full squad (for an irrelevant FA Cup match or whatever),” says Justin Kavanagh. “How old is he again?”

He hasn’t even been born yet.

9.20pm GMT

76 min After an execrable start, this has turned into a decent game. Liverpool are now playing 4-2-3-1, with Firmino behind Salah, Origi on the left and Shaqiri on the right.

9.18pm GMT

74 min A Wolves change: Matt Doherty replaces Jonny.

9.18pm GMT

73 min Jimenez galumphs down the right and crosses towards Cavaleiro at the far post, where Hoever makes an important interception. He’s done so well. It’s one thing to play professional football as a 16-year-old, but to do so at centre-half is beyond.

9.15pm GMT

72 min Ruddy definitely got a touch on that Shaqiri free-kick. It was a monstrously good save.

9.15pm GMT

70 min A double change for Liverpool: Salah and Firmino replace Sturridge and Jones, who had a quiet debut.

9.14pm GMT

69 min: Shaqiri hits the inside of the post! It was a stunning free-kick, which curled and dipped wickedly before hitting the post, rebounding across the line and spinning behind for a goalkick. I think Ruddy got a fingertip on that; if he did, it was an outrageous save.

9.12pm GMT

68 min Coady fouls Sturridge 25 yards from goal, slightly to the right of centre - perfect, in other words, for Xherdan Shaqiri...

9.11pm GMT

67 min Like.

| @rubendsneves_ pic.twitter.com/zecOXYTczM

9.09pm GMT

65 min “Sorry Rob, did I miss anything in the first half?” asks Jill O’Donnell. “I was watching Britain’s Busiest Motorway, brilliant episode. This looks like it’s been a decent game!”

Best game ever.

9.08pm GMT

63 min Camacho, who has been really good in possession, draws a foul from Vinagre with a smart turn. Shaqiri’s inswinger is headed away by Jimenez.

9.06pm GMT

62 min “A successful halftime bollocking indeed,” says Charles Antaki. “With some managers, the ranting and raving is hard to picture (Sir Roy, say) but with Klopp I like to imagine the scene involving the best elements of Transformers, The Exorcist, and King Kong, plus a bit of Nosferatu to give it some light and shade.”

And at least one lusty, throaty laugh to lighten the mood before he hoofs a teapot at Alberto Moreno’s noggin.

9.06pm GMT

61 min The teenager Hoever dithers for a split-second and is robbed by the indefatigable Jimenez, who drags the ball round Mignolet but runs out of room and can only stab it into the side-netting.

9.02pm GMT

57 min “As a Liverpool fan,” says Niall Mullen, “I was wondering: is there any way we can win this game by then not have to play any further games in the F.A. Cup? A good cup run, even a cup win does nothing for this team (I’m sorry to say). The Cup has been dead since Manchester United* killed it in 2000 so that England could host the 2006 World Cup (which to be fair was amazing so credit to the FA for choosing to play all the games in Germany).

“*bantz it was already dead”

9.01pm GMT

A touch of class from Ruben Neves. He clipped the ball out wide to Vinagre an then ran across to make himself available for the return pass. He had just enough space to get the ball out of his feet and then, as Shaqiri closed in, hit a wobbling, dipping shot from 30 yards that beat Mignolet and flew just inside the near post.

8.59pm GMT

Beautiful goal!

8.57pm GMT

53 min “You did indeed mention that Hoever is only sixteen,” says Ian Copestake, “but did you do it in your Michael Caine voice?”

8.56pm GMT

52 min A Wolves substitution: Ivan Cavaleiro replaces Diogo Jota.

8.56pm GMT

It was a cracking finish from Origi. Milner’s shot on the turn was blocked and rebounded to Origi on the edge of the box. He shuffled inside Boly, onto his left foot, and thrashed a rising drive past the diving Ruddy. That’s an excellent goal.

8.55pm GMT

The half-time coating has worked!

8.54pm GMT

50 min The increased zest of Liverpool’s performance suggests a not insignificant half-time brollocking from Jurgen Klopp.

8.52pm GMT

49 min “All this talk about disrespect reminds me of the days I was studying at Leeds, eighteen years ago,” says Thida Aung. “Those were the (Manchester) United days. They were the dominant team throughout the season and I might be wrong here but they did not get a lot of flak for not fielding their strongest squad. In fact, I was given a backhanded compliment by one of the lecturers on Liverpool winning the League Cup, what he said amounting to that it was the wrong cup/title to win. Another questioned my excitement when Liverpool went on to win the FA Cup. Both lecturers were staunch United fans and they taught this foreigner that cups are nothing in English football or something big teams win by accident.”

Well, questions were asked in parliament in 1994, when Manchester United picked a weakened team against Port Vale that included Keane, Scholes, Neville, Irwin, Butt and Beckham. But, yes, the culture has changed since then. I don’t think anyone seriously thinks Liverpool have disrespected the Bing with their team selection tonight.

8.52pm GMT

48 min Liverpool’s youngsters weren’t the problem in the first half. It was the mature reserves, who were either indolent, ineffective or both.

8.49pm GMT

47 min “Liverpool already used one of their subs so we can’t see Salah, Mane and Firmino,” points out Rivka Oppenheim. “I agree this match sucks!”

8.49pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Wolves begin the second half.

8.39pm GMT

Half-time chit-chat

Bill Hargreaves “No hats off for Milner. Jota has caused him to blot his copybook. All we need now is for Vinagre to rub salt into the wound.”

8.36pm GMT

Half-time reading

8.35pm GMT

After a tedious 35 minutes, Wolves took the lead through Raul Jimenez’s expert finish and threatened to add a second before half-time. I’m sure we’ll be seeing at least one and possibly all three of Salah, Mane and Firmino after the break.

8.34pm GMT

Peep peep!

8.34pm GMT

45+3 min The hitherto faultless Hoever tries to run the ball out of defence and loses it to Vinagre. He surges forward and angles a sharp cutback towards Jimenez, who miskicks an attempted snapshot from 12 yards.

8.32pm GMT

45+2 min The last man Fabinho again takes a risk by diving in, but this time he makes a vital interception to stop Jimenez running through on goal.

8.31pm GMT

45+1 min There will be three added minutes.

8.31pm GMT

45 min Jimenez almost gets a shooting chance after a pitiful attempt at a clearance by Moreno. Thankfully for him there were other defenders around and Jimenez was crowded out.

8.30pm GMT

44 min Liverpool are not without options on the bench: Salah, Mane and Firmino are all available.

8.28pm GMT

42 min Moreno, fractionally offside from Sturridge’s pass, has a shot beaten away by Ruddy.

8.28pm GMT

41 min It was a poor touch from Milner but he wasn’t the only player at fault. Fabinho dived in unnecessarily on the halfway line, betraying his inexperience in the position, and that meant Jimenez was able to run through on goal without challenge.

8.26pm GMT

40 min “Hey Rob,” says JR in Illinois. “In your 3 min entry you say that the Lovren being injured would be detrimental for Wolves. I can’t tell if you were being snarky or if you really meant to say ‘Liverpool’ instead of ‘Wolves’. I’ll have you know Lovren is one of the best defenders in the world. I know this because he told me so.”

8.25pm GMT

It was, in fairness, a stinker of a goal to concede. Milner miscontrolled the ball on the halfway line and was robbed by Jota. He stabbed the ball to Jimenez, taking Fabinho out of the game in the process, and Wolves were two against one. With Hoever unable to get across, Jimenez to within 10 yards of goal before crashing the ball emphatically across Mignolet and into the net.

8.24pm GMT

Told you it was a stinker!

8.22pm GMT

36 min To call this game a stinker would be an egregious insult to all things malodorous. Nothing has happened.

8.22pm GMT

35 min “At the risk of interrupting the praise that the club appears to be getting for bringing Hoever on, can it perhaps be pointed out that he only signed in summer 2018 after he failed to sign a deal at Ajax?” says James Elliott. “I thought looting other club’s youth setups was something deemed to be wrong?”

You still believe in morality? Oh, how quaint, how 2015 of you.

8.20pm GMT

34 min Jonny’s rising cross-shot from an absurd angle is patted down comfortably by Mignolet. That officially constitutes the first shot on target of the match, though I suspect it was a cross.

8.19pm GMT

33 min Jimenez’s attempted through pass to Jota is cut out by Hoever, who has started very well and whose name will appear as However before this match is out if my auto-correct has anything to do with it.

8.16pm GMT

31 min Glory be, a chance! Milner’s up and under bounces off a couple of Wolves defenders and falls to Shaqiri, who drags wastefully wide from 15 yards. It took a deflection off a Wolves defender but it was going miles wide anyway.

8.14pm GMT

29 min “I’m 41,” says Tim Woods, “and I’m writing bad novels, substantially overestimating my ability on guitar, and listening to a lot of Britpop, while sporting awful hair. Clearly Matt Dony is doing far better than me. As is Hoever.”

If you think he’s good at football, you should see his poetry.

8.13pm GMT

28 min On the plus side, there are still replays in the third round of the FA Cup.

8.12pm GMT

27 min Wolves enquire for a penalty when Vinagre’s cross hits Hoever in the area. I don’t think it hit his arm, and if it did it was unavoidable.

8.11pm GMT

26 min He’s sixteen.

8.10pm GMT

25 min A better cross from Moreno flashes across the face of goal. Liverpool look the more likely creators of a chance.

8.10pm GMT

24 min A nice run down the left from Curtis Jones, who nutmegs Jonny before lifting a cross that is too close to Ruddy.

8.07pm GMT

21 min It feels like Liverpool have dominated possession, though I cannot presently verify this with cold, hard data. It’s all very subdued at the moment.

8.06pm GMT

20 min “At 16,” begins Matt Dony, “I was writing bad poetry, substantially overestimating my ability on guitar, and listening to a lot of grunge, while sporting awful hair. (Yes, I was exactly as cool as you’re imagining.) I cannot comprehend what it must be like to be a 16yr old coming on for Liverpool, knowing millions of people care about how you perform. I hope he has a stormer.”

Fine sentiments, with which I wholeheartedly concur, but let’s move onto more important matters: about this poetry...

8.04pm GMT

19 min The goal needs a goal. Or even a chance. Or even a corner. A throw-in would do. The crowd are quiet and the pace resembles that of a pre-season friendly.

8.02pm GMT

17 min Liverpool’s kids have been fine so far, with the right-back Camacho looking especially confident in possession.

8.00pm GMT

16 min “Evening Rob, and Happy New Year,” says Simon McMahon. “Just so we’re clear, there’s no one on the sports desk next to you in blackface, is there? Or ‘disorientated’ after mixing Baileys with sleeping tablets after all the festive liveblogging? Or waving at their pal with a straight arm and hand over their mouth for clarity? Footballers, eh? Bloody hell.”

I’m working at home, so I can’t really comment on the bacchinalian imperatives of those in the office. But I would just like to say that, whatever happens in the next two hours, somebody hacked into my Guardian account.

8.00pm GMT

15 min Milner is booked for a cynical tug on Jota. The game is yet to really get going.

7.56pm GMT

12 min Joao Moutinho belts a volley into orbit from long-range.

7.56pm GMT

11 min “Nature abhors a defensive vacuum,” says Jim Morrish, “so Hoever now on the pitch.”

7.56pm GMT

10 min Jota waves a nice pass with the outside of the foot to Jonny, whose shot from 25 yards takes a deflection and goes behind for the first corner. It flashes across the face of goal and away to safety.

7.54pm GMT

9 min Liverpool are getting into their stride after that false start. Keita beats Moutinho with a lovely stepover and slides a pass through the inside-left channel to Sturridge, who is debatably flagged offside.

7.53pm GMT

8 min Hoever has gone straight into the centre of defence alongside Fabinho. I’m not sure whether I mentioned this, but he’s 16!

7.51pm GMT

5 min Lovren is replaced by Ki-Jana Hoever, who was - and you’ll like this - born in 2002. My best years had already gone in 2002! At 16, he becomes the youngest Liverpool player ever to appear in the FA Cup.

7.49pm GMT

4 min Lovren is receiving treatment and I’d be surprised if he is able to continue. If he does go off, Liverpool will be down to one fit centre-half. Mind you, Virgil van Dijk could probably play on his own in a 1-0-9 formation and still keep a clean sheet.

7.48pm GMT

3 min An early blow for Wolves: Dejan Lovren appears to be struggling with injury.

7.45pm GMT

1 min Liverpool kick off from left to right. They are in red; Wolves are in the old gold.

7.44pm GMT

The match is preceded by a minute’s applause for Bill Slater, who died shortly before Christmas. He captained last Wolves team to win this competition, 59 years ago.

7.42pm GMT

“Apparently,” says Matt Dony, “Robbie Keane grew up dreaming about being a middling pundit in the furthest chair from the host.”

If you’re not in the UK, that will make no sense whatsoever, and I’m afraid I simply cannot be bothered to explain it.

7.40pm GMT

Pre-match interviews

Nuno Espirito Santo “Each game is a final. We have to do everything right against one of the best team. They have enough quality in their squad to always pick a strong XI; they are a fantastic team and they have strength on the bench.”

7.34pm GMT

“I’m fine with Liverpool losing this game,” says Annie Newton. “I’m fine with us fighting for the Champions League & Premier League trophy. We made it to three finals last year, didn’t win any, and it didn’t send me into a deep depression as much as missing out on the Premier League title did, very recently. I’m fine with Man City going to the end of this, especially if they can knock out Man Utd along the way. I’d only like us to get past this game if we could meet Man Utd before too long and make them kiss grass.”

I’m sensing a theme here.

7.26pm GMT

“Hi Rob,” writes Peter Oh. “With a couple of Liverpool benchmen likely getting a run out today, I am cautiously optimistic that the post-match headlines won’t include ‘Mignolet mauled at the Molineux’ or ‘Moreno razed by Wolves’.”

7.20pm GMT

Pre-match optimism

“I don’t expect Liverpool to win this,” writes Ian Copestake, “as the changes we will make will make us vulnerable to fate, the weight of FA history (and the shirt), and our own recent thrashing at the way more mentally strong City.”

7.02pm GMT

Adam Lallana, sad to say, will miss the game after suffering a minor injury in training yesterday. The poor bloke has been the ghost at the feast with Liverpool and England in the last year or so.

6.59pm GMT

Pre-match reading/listening/gostraightbelowthelining

6.54pm GMT

Wolves 5-9 Liverpool. That’s the number of changes each side has made from their last Premier League match. Wolves have picked a strong side, including Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Diogo Jota, Raul Jimenez and their usual back three.

Dejan Lovren and James Milner are Liverpool’s only survivors from the team that started the 2-1 defeat at Manchester City. It looks like Fabinho will play in defence, while Rafa Camacho and the exciting Curtis Jones will make their first-team debuts. Jurgen Klopp has a bit of insurance on the bench in case things go wrong.

3.58pm GMT

Wolves 4-7 Liverpool. That’s the score when it comes to FA Cup triumphs, but it’s been a while since either of these teams lifted the trophy: 59 years for Wolves, 13 for Liverpool, which is a hell of a lot more in dog years. We know both sides have bigger priorities this season, yet there is enough quality in their squads to suggest this should be an engaging, enjoyable game.

Bloody better be, because I’m missing the last episode of Britain’s Busiest Motorway for this.

Liverpool won 2-0 on this ground in the Premier League last month. The men whose goals secured that victory, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk, are unlikely to trouble the scorers tonight, with both sides expected to make multiple changes from their usual Premier League XIs.

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Published on January 07, 2019 13:53

FA Cup fourth round draw – as it happened

Arsenal were paired with Manchester United, while non-league Barnet will host Brentford in the last 32 of the competition

9.53pm GMT

The full draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup

9.52pm GMT

That’s your lot. Arsenal v Manchester United stands out, and there is also a great chance for some of the smaller clubs to reach the last 16.

9.52pm GMT

Barnet v Brentford

Portsmouth v QPR

9.51pm GMT

Chelsea v Sheffield Wednesday or Luton Town

Newcastle United or Blackburn Rovers v Watford

9.50pm GMT

Brighton & Hove Albion v West Bromwich Albion

Bristol City v Bolton Wanderers

9.49pm GMT

Swansea City v Gillingham

AFC Wimbledon v West Ham

9.47pm GMT

Right, here we go.

9.47pm GMT

BREAKING NEWS: THE BALLS ARE GOING INTO THE BOWL

9.01pm GMT

Hello, good evening and welcome to a unique moment in human history. The draw for the fourth round of the 2018-19 FA Cup has never happened before; it will never happen again.

The third round was fun, with famous victories for Barnet, Newport, Gillingham, Oldham, Bristol City and others will be looking for a big tie. The draw will be take place after Wolves’ third-round match agianst Liverpool, and will be conducted by two former Wolves players, Carl Ikeme and Robbie Keane. It’s a particular honour for Keane, who was a fanatical childhood supporter of all 36 clubs left in the hat. Har, har, har.

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Published on January 07, 2019 13:53

The Fiver | An unwelcome distraction to Premier League title ambitions

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Everyone knows it needs to be put out of its misery. Everyone knows it’s living on former glories; that it hasn’t been the same since the late 1990s; that, for all the bullish rhetoric, nobody really cares about it anymore. But that’s enough about The Fiver, because there’s one FA Cup third-round match remaining! Wolves host crisis club Liverpool, who have lost their last one games, at Molineux. And, though neither side will explicitly say as much, the competition is a bit of an unwelcome distraction to their Premier League title ambitions. Liverpool are aiming to win the title for the first time since Doogie Howser, M.D. was in his scalpel-wielding pomp, while Wolves are only two points behind leaders Leicester in Division Two of the Premier League.

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Published on January 07, 2019 07:57

Woking 0-2 Watford: FA Cup third round – as it happened

Will Hughes and the substitute Troy Deeney gave Watford a comfortable victory over non-league Woking in their third-round tie

4.01pm GMT

That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with some freshly baked match reports, and a link to Nick Ames’ liveblog of Newport v Leicester. Thanks for your company, bye!

3.59pm GMT

All this afternoon’s final scores in the FA Cup

3.59pm GMT

There’s been a huge shock at Bramall Lane, where non-league Barnet have beaten Sheffield United 1-0. And Oldham, beloved Oldham, have beaten Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

3.57pm GMT

Post-match interviews

Troy Deeney “It was all about mentality. The boys who started set the tone with their professionalism and when I came on I was able to finish it off. I’ve worked a lot this season on getting into the six-yard box a bit more and it’s nice to make it three goals in two games.”

3.51pm GMT

Peep peep! Watford made 11 changes but still had too much class for Woking, who gave their all but were well beaten. They can now return to the more important business of trying to get promotion back to the National League.

3.50pm GMT

90+2 min: Woking 0-2 Watford The unusually indecisive Deeney passes up an excellent chance on the break, and then Loza appeals unsuccessfully for a penalty at the other end after a challenge from Navarro. I think he just lost his balance

3.48pm GMT

90 min Oldham are winning at Fulham! It’s 1989-94 all over again!

3.47pm GMT

90 min: Woking 0-2 Watford There will be four minutes of added endeavour.

3.46pm GMT

89 min Leroy Sane has made it Manchester City 7-0 Rotherham.

3.46pm GMT

88 min Fulham have missed a penalty against Oldham, and Shane Ferguson has scored two late goals to give Millwall the lead against Hull.

3.44pm GMT

87 min: Woking 0-2 Watford That was Woking’s best chance. Jolley surged down the right, held off Chalobah and stood up a lovely cross to the far post. Bradbury got above the Watford defenders but couldn’t quite get on top of the ball and headed over from four yards.

3.43pm GMT

85 min: Woking 0-2 Watford

More goals:

3.43pm GMT

84 min: Woking 0-2 Watford Britos scoops the ball forward to Deeney and keeps running. Deeney lobs a nice return pass into the path of Britos, who is just starting to dream of glory when the last man Cook comes across to head clear.

3.39pm GMT

82 min: Woking 0-2 Watford This game is over. Watford have been too good for Woking, who will have no complaints and should have no regrets.

3.38pm GMT

81 min There has been a flurry of goals in the other FA Cup games. These are the latest scores:

3.37pm GMT

80 min: Woking 0-2 Watford Sema is okay to continue, and Marc Navarro comes on to replace Will Hughes.

3.37pm GMT

78 min: Woking 0-2 Watford Sema is struggling after a tackle from Cook, who won the ball but then followed through into Sema’s ankle. Troy Deeney, a non-league footballer in spirit, has a good-natured back-and-forth with some of the home fans while he receives treatment.

3.33pm GMT

77 min These are the latest scores in the other 2pm kick-offs:

3.32pm GMT

Troy Deeney puts Woking’s hopes of a giantkilling into Row Z. The goal was created impressively by the substitute Sema, who outmuscled Bradbury down the left before driving a low cross that beat the keeper Ross and left Deeney with an open goal.

3.30pm GMT

73 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Gerring is marking Deeney, who he promised to put in Row Z on Friday.

3.29pm GMT

72 min: Woking 0-1 Watford And now Ken Sema replaces Adalberto Penaranda.

3.28pm GMT

71 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Troy Deeney comes on for Watford, replacing Isaac Success.

3.26pm GMT

70 min: Woking 0-1 Watford A double change for Woking: Harvey Bradbury, son of Manchester City legend Lee, and Paul Hodges replace Toby Edser and Greg Luer

3.26pm GMT

69 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Nothing much is happening out there. Watford are nowhere near as dominant as they were in the first half, though Woking still haven’t really been able to lay a glove on them.

3.24pm GMT

67 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Little gets away with a crunching, old-fashioned tackle on Hughes. He took the ball but it looked like his studs were showing as well. We haven’t seen a replay.

3.21pm GMT

63 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Little is putting himself about and gets involved in a minor spat with Masina.

3.19pm GMT

62 min: Woking 0-1 Watford The substitute Little has Woking’s first shot on target, a well-struck shot from 25 yards that is comfortably held by Gomes despite an awkward bounce.

3.17pm GMT

60 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Woking make their first change, with Armani Little replacing Harry Taylor.

3.16pm GMT

59 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Cleverley tries a simple square pass and wheninRomes it straight out of play.

3.15pm GMT

58 min These are the latest scores in the other 2pm kick-offs:

3.14pm GMT

56 min: Woking 0-1 Watford A bit of an opportunity for Woking. Loza’s deep cross from the left is headed back across goal by Hyde, and Gomes springs from his line to claim the ball just in front of Luer. That was a half-chance for Hyde, who I think was trying to go for goal rather than head it down towards Luer.

3.13pm GMT

56 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Watford have had 15 shots at goal to Woking’s none.

3.12pm GMT

55 min Penaranda dances past two players before curling a few yards wide from distance. Ross has it covered, and in truth it wasn’t a great effort. He is clearly very talented, though his decision-making hasn’t been too good today. He’s trying a bit too hard to impress.

3.11pm GMT

54 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Though they haven’t threatened an equaliser, Woking have had much more of the game since half-time. The left-winger Loza looks their biggest threat.

3.10pm GMT

53 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Hughes plays a nice pass to Success, who tries to run straight through two defenders on the edge of the box. The ball takes a few ricochets before dribbling through to the keeper Ross.

3.08pm GMT

50 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Loza wins a free-kick for Woking with a good run down the left. Set-pieces look like Woking’s best chance of an equaliser - but not this time, with Casey’s free-kick drifting out of play on the far side.

3.05pm GMT

48 min: Woking 0-1 Watford The biggest cheer of the afternoon, as the muscular Success accidentally sends the assistant referee tumbling over an advertising hoarding.

3.02pm GMT

46 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Peep peep! Watford begin the second half.

2.55pm GMT

These are the half-time scores in the other 2pm kick-offs. Phil Foden has scored for Manchester City.

2.49pm GMT

Half-time reading

2.48pm GMT

Peep peep! Watford deservedly lead through Will Hughes’ 13th-minute goal. Woking will be glad to go in only 1-0 down, because though their effort was beyond reproach, they were outclassed for much of that half. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

2.46pm GMT

44 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Quina dances infield from the left, beats Collier with a lovely stepover and cuts the ball back to Hughes. He tries to flick it behind his standing leg towards goal, but can only divert it across the six-yard line and Woking clear.

2.42pm GMT

41 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Woking have struggled to put any pressure on Watford, who have been in cruise control with and without the ball.

2.39pm GMT

38 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Casey ruffles the bleached locks of Penaranda, who responds with a little punch of Casey’s thigh. I think that’s what happened, anyway, though we haven’t seen a replay yet. Either way, the referee took no action.

2.38pm GMT

36 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Cleverley hits the bar! It was a spectacular free-kick, curled from a long way out to the left. Ross couldn’t get across his line quickly enough and it slammed off the bar.

2.35pm GMT

32 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Penaranda, who has faded after a lively start, hits a dismal free-kick which deflects behind for a corner. Nothing comes of it.

2.33pm GMT

30 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Usually it’s the team in front who want to hear the half-time whistle, but it’s the opposite today. Woking will be very happy if it stays like this for the next 15 minutes, so that they can regroup and try to unnerve Watford as the stakes get higher later in the game. At the moment, Watford are in control.

2.31pm GMT

29 min These are the latest scores in the other 2pm kick-offs:

2.30pm GMT

28 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Gerring is booked for an earthy challenge from behind on Success. That was straight outta 1991.

2.27pm GMT

26 min: Woking 0-1 Watford A lovely move from Watford. Hughes angles a good ball into Success, who flicks it deftly into the path of the onrushing Cleverley. He moves into the box before hitting a shot that is blocked by Gerring.

2.26pm GMT

25 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Woking have had more of the ball since going behind, though the gap between the teams is still obvious. The pitch is in excellent condition, which is helping Watford.

2.24pm GMT

23 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Casey’s high, hanging cross from the left is met by Gerring, whose towering header is comfortably saved to his right by Gomes. It wouldn’t have counted as Gerring has been flagged offside, erroneously I think.

2.23pm GMT

2.22pm GMT

22 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Watford break three-on-three from a Woking free-kick. Quina has options left and right; instead he lumps it into orbit from 25 yards.

2.21pm GMT

21 min These are the scores in the other 2pm kick-offs. Raheem Sterling has given Manchester City the lead against Rotherham.

2.20pm GMT

19 min: Woking 0-1 Watford That could have been 2-0. Janmaat’s low, near-post cross from the right is met by Success, whose snap volley is saved crucially by Ross. Watford are playing extremely well.

2.19pm GMT

18 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Replays suggest Hughes’s shot took a slight but important deflection off the head of Jolley, which is probably why Edser then misjudged his attempted header off the line.

2.15pm GMT

15 min: Woking 0-1 Watford Success is booked for diving. Moments before the goal, by the way, Masina had a shot cleared off the line by Edser. That led to the corner which led to the goal.

2.15pm GMT

Watford take the lead from a left-wing corner. Masina angled it sharply back for the negligently unmarked Hughes, who curled an emphatic first-time shot into the far corner. Edser, on the far post, tried to head it clear and ended up misjudging the flight of the ball. Had he stayed on the post, standing upright, it would probably have hit him in the face.

2.13pm GMT

13 min: Woking 0-0 Watford

These are the scores in the other 2pm kick-offs:

2.12pm GMT

11 min: Woking 0-0 Watford Woking are starting to come into the game. Luer bursts into the box on the right before being crucially dispossessed by Masina.

2.09pm GMT

9 min: Woking 0-0 Watford Watford have started with a lot of authority, and Woking haven’t really been able to build any momentum as a result.

2.08pm GMT

7 min This is a really eyecatching start from the Venezuelan debtuant Penaranda. He cuts infield from the left, beats Collier and curls a fine shot which bounces just past the far post with Ross probably beaten.

2.06pm GMT

5 min “A defender denies an attacker a goalscoring opportunity and gets sent off,” says Kevin Ryan. “An attacker dives in the penalty area, thus seeking a clear goalscoring opportunity for his side and receives a yellow card. Doesn’t seem quite to add up in this Dude’s opinion. What do you think?”

The punishments fit the crimes, no?

2.06pm GMT

4 min The lively Penaranda charges infield from the left and drags the ball back to Quina, whose stinging shot from the edge of the box is blocked by Collier. The sound of leather on bare thigh brought back a million unpleasant memories of the stinging kiss of the Mitre Mouldmaster on a cold day in the school playground.

2.04pm GMT

3 min The debutant Penaranda scuffs a tame shot through to Ross from 25 yards. Watford have started well though.

2.03pm GMT

2 min Success tries an acrobatic overhead kick from inside the D. Goalkick to Woking.

2.01pm GMT

1 min Woking, in red-and-white halves, get the match underway. Watford are in their turquoise away kit.

1.58pm GMT

The players emerge to a lively, hopeful atmosphere at Kingfield. This is Woking’s biggest crowd for 22 years. It’s time for business.

1.28pm GMT

Watford have made 11 changes from the side that drew 3-3 at Bournemouth in the week, and hopefully allayed Alan Dowson’s fears of a cricket score. Woking are without their leading scorer, Max Kretzschmar, who has a hamstring injury.

Woking (4-2-3-1) Ross, Collier, Cook, Gerring, Casey; Taylor, Jolley; Luer, Edser, Loza; Hyde.
Substitutes: Schotterl, Bradbury, Little, Hodges, Hester-Cook, Wheeler, Spence.

1.21pm GMT

If you can’t wait until 2pm for your next hit of pharmaceutical grade liveblog euphoria, Nick Ames is currently following West Ham v Arsenal in the WSL.

1.18pm GMT

Pre-match reading

1.03pm GMT

We’ll also have updates from the other 2pm games, which are:

10.26am GMT

Hello. That’s enough of the pleasantries; let’s do some time travel! I’ve prepared 1.21 gigawatts and set the DeLorean to 5th January 1991, the date when Woking - and Tim Buzaglo in particular - became part of FA Cup folklore. Buzaglo scored an expert hat-trick as Woking beat West Brom 4-2 at the Hawthorns in the third round of the FA Cup, an achievement which registered 9.7 on the footballromanceometer - and which briefly turned him into a slightly discombobulated celebrity.

Woking met Everton at Goodison Park in the next round, and played very verily in a 1-0 defeat. The glory of that cup run often overshadows some memorable giant-bothering a few years later. They beat a number of Football League sides from 1994-97, and also drew away to Premier League side Coventry before losing a replay 2-1.

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Published on January 06, 2019 08:01

Burnley 1-2 Newcastle: Premier League – as it happened

A Ben Mee own goal and a header from Ciaran Clark gave impressive Newcastle a deserved victory at Turf Moor

10.39pm GMT

Here’s Paul Wilson on a rare happy Monday for Newcastle:

10.39pm GMT

Rafa speaks to the lads on Monday Night Football: “The effort and attitude of the players was great,” he says. “We stuck to the game plan well, and had chances to score a third.”

Rafa also praises his makeshift three-man defence, saying they coped well with Burnley’s aerial threat. “They had to deal with very dangerous players, and they did very well.”

10.24pm GMT

Peep peep! Newcastle win their third consecutive league game and their first away from home this season. They were a bit fortunate to find themselves 2-0 up early on but played superbly thereafter and fully deserved to win. Burnley huffed and puffed but looked short of confidence.

10.23pm GMT

90+5 min Taylor’s free-kick is headed over from six yards by Vokes, who jumped a fraction too early and thus couldn’t get over the ball. That was the last touch of the match.

10.22pm GMT

90+4 min Ritchie is booked for a foul on Lennon. Another free-kick to Burnley, this one almost like a short corner from the right...

10.22pm GMT

90+4 min It’s another poor free-kick and Newcastle break through Perez, whose shot towards an open goal is blocked by a defender.

10.21pm GMT

90+3 min Hayden is penalised for a challenge on Taylor, which gives Burnley a free-kick 35 yards from goal. Hart is coming forward...

10.20pm GMT

90+3 min Burnley win a corner on the left. This is probably their last chance... and it’s a dreadful corner from Barnes.

10.19pm GMT

90+2 min Burnley started the game strongly and had a really good spell just before half-time, but they have been outclassed in the second half.

10.18pm GMT

90 min There will be four minutes of added time.

10.18pm GMT

90 min Isaac Hayden comes on for Newcastle to replace the excellent Kenedy.

10.17pm GMT

88 min Kenedy’s shot is blocked by Taylor’s phallus. He staggers around dazed for a few seconds before getting back to business.

10.15pm GMT

87 min Ki has had a superb game. He brings such calmness and order to Newcastle’s play.

10.15pm GMT

86 min A win would lift Newcastle to 13th. They look reasonably comfortable, though Burnley are starting to put them under a lot of physical pressure.

10.13pm GMT

85 min “There you go,” says Giulio Ongaro. “You are welcome.”

10.12pm GMT

84 min “Evening Rob,” says Simon McMahon. “I can confirm that you can indeed buy anything off the internet. And I’ve got the personalised dog treat Christmas bauble decoration to prove it.”

10.10pm GMT

83 min A double change for Burnley: Jeff Hendrick and Ashley Barnes replace Steven Defour and Robbie Brady.

10.10pm GMT

82 min Newcastle have been excellent in this half and deserve a third straight win.

10.10pm GMT

80 min: Joselu hits the post! The chance was created superbly by Perez, who danced elegantly past a Burnley defender and played an instant angled through pass. Joselu, who made a fine run from right to left, belted a first-time shot on rhe run that beat Hart and clattered off the far post.

10.07pm GMT

79 min “While we’re discussing the Rocket,” says Niall Mullen, “he also scored this ridiculous hat trick.”

1st of March 1995. Great days.

10.06pm GMT

78 min The tireless Ritchie crosses towards Joselu, whose volley deflects behind for a corner. It’s a poor one and Lowton belts it clear.

10.05pm GMT

76 min “What time did you start this morning, covering that other sport?” says Matt Dony. “You must be over the moon about the half hour delay in this match! I’d have a coffee and a chat with Hal Robson-Kanu, and make him tell me all about THAT goal against Belgium. Over and over again. If he’s not available, Vokes would do.”

I was up at 3am, yes. It’s okay, though, I’m high on EPL.

10.03pm GMT

75 min Brady’s very deep cross is volleyed back into the middle by Lennon. Vokes leaves it for Wood, who slices a half-volley high over the bar from 12 yards. That was another decent chance.

10.02pm GMT

73 min Newcastle are starting to sit on their lead, an understandable but risky tactic. A poor defensive header from Ritchie goes to Brady, who shoots well wide from 20 yards. Brady is a fine player but he looks very rusty.

10.00pm GMT

73 min “With the Christmas Party Cancelling Season almost upon us, it was good to see a couple of fine contributions to Bournemouth’s and Newcastle’s bloopers videos this weekend,” says Gary Naylor. “Though nothing was quite so funny as the bravura comedy double act of Jorginho and Luiz, building a Brazilian panto tradition in West London. More please.”

It’s the best panto in the world!

10.00pm GMT

72 min Yedlin is lucky not to be booked for a late tackle on Taylor.

9.59pm GMT

71 min Brady’s short cross is chested down by Wood, whose shot from six yards is brilliantly blocked by Yedlin.

9.58pm GMT

71 min “Rosenthal really planted his flag first in the Premier League’s worst miss summit didn’t he?” says Niall Mullen. “Though I’ll always love him for his goals that helped Liverpool get over the line in 1990. He signed mid-season to give us the push we needed. I wonder what he’s doing in January?”

I thought he came later than that. Either way you’re right; that hat-trick at Chelsea was absurdly good.

9.58pm GMT

70 min A Newcastle change: Joselu replaces the weary Salomon Rondon.

9.57pm GMT

68 min A loose ball falls perfectly for Wood, whose snapshot from 10 yards is too close to Dubravka. That was a good chance.

9.55pm GMT

67 min Burnley are struggling to get the ball off Newcastle, whose every move is going through the impressive Ki.

9.52pm GMT

64 min Burnley are coming back into the game, though Newcastle continue to look a threat on the counter-attack.

9.51pm GMT

63 min “I’d like to have a coffee with (alleged) Chelsea defender David Luiz, because if his conversation is as scatter-brained as his defending, it would be hugely entertaining,” says Justin Kavanagh. “I’d also like to ask him why he rushed past Son to go and mark the corner flag last weekend. And that World Cup semi-final, David, any thoughts…”

I’d wait until his coffee has cooled down before asking him that last one.

9.50pm GMT

61 min Perez chips the ball over the top towards Ritchie and Rondon, who both try to shoot at the same time and succeed only in taking each other out.

9.48pm GMT

60 min A lot of bedroom superstars looked down their nose at this match before it had even started, but it’s been really entertaining. Taylor wins a corner for Burnley, their first of the second half, though nothing comes of it.

9.46pm GMT

58 min “I’m not on Twitter anymore so no longer have a forum to express my firm and potentially overblown views,” says Sachin Nakrani. “So please allow me to tell your other readers that Matt Ritchie’s miss just now is, without doubt, the worst miss by a footballer, professional or otherwise, that I’ve ever seen.”

Come on mate, we all know who you support. It was a staggering miss though, because there was no bobble or anything like that and he was barely four yards out. He could have walked it in.

9.44pm GMT

56 min Ritchie plays a sharp pass infield to Kenedy, who stabs the ball up and then blooters a half-volley miles over the bar from distance.

9.43pm GMT

55 min “Unfortunately this is typical Newcastle,” says Tony Thornton. “In the ascendancy and seemingly in control but then press the self-destruct button. Burnley to win this 3-2.”

Is there actually a self-destruct button? Can you buy them on the internet?

9.43pm GMT

54 min Newcastle have been terrific since half-time, keeping the ball with a lot of confidence and ensuring Burnley can’t get up a head of steam.

9.40pm GMT

51 min The Newcastle fans were all celebrating when they saw the ball hit the net. That’s one of the worst misses I’ve seen in a long while.

9.39pm GMT

50 min: Ritchie misses an open goal! I have no idea how he missed that. Yedlin nicked the ball off Brady, broke into the box and stabbed a low shot that was saved by the feet of Hart. The ball ran across goal to Ritchie, who came on the blind side of Lowton and somehow contrived to slice the ball into the side netting from four yards.

9.37pm GMT

48 min Defour gives the ball away to Ritchie, whose mishit cross almost sneaks over the head of Hart at the near post. In the end Hart jumped backwards to grab the ball comfortably.

9.33pm GMT

46 min Peep peep! Newcastle begin the second half.

9.19pm GMT

That was lots of fun. Newcastle were in total control at 2-0, with both goals coming from corners, before Sam Vokes’ 18-yard header sparked a frantic end to the first half. See you in 10 minutes for the second half.

9.18pm GMT

45+1 min Vokes’ shot takes a defletion and spins wide of the far post. Burnley, who played some nice football early on without creating anything, are now pummelling Newcastle with crosses and causing plenty of problems. There’s a moral in that story.

9.17pm GMT

45 min: Good save from Dubravka! A long cross from the right was headed down by Vokes to Wood, who slammed a rising half-volley towards goal from the edge of the area. It was close enough for Dubravka to react smartly and tip it over the bar.

9.13pm GMT

42 min Schar splashes a shot over the bar from 35 yards.

9.13pm GMT

42 min Goals change moods, and the Burnley crowd have returned to supporting rather than groaning at their team. This has been a very entertaining game.

9.12pm GMT

41 min “Hey Rob,” says J. R. in Illinois. “I just ate all the gravy left over from Thanksgiving for lunch and now I’m feeling pretty logy. I can’t guarantee I’m going to make it through this game without nodding off for a bit. Anyhow, as for current footballers to have a chat with I’d go for Jonathan Walters. He seems like a lively fella and also pretty straightforward. I’d ask him about behind the scenes Roy Keane stories, details on the many hilarious hijinks at Stoke (remember the pig head in the locker jape?), and would also ask what exactly Martin O’Neill does.”

Win trophies?

9.10pm GMT

Mee drove a long angled pass towards the edge of the area, where Vokes got a run on Clark and looped a superb header over Dubravka. You could argue Dubravka’s positioning was imperfect - he was maybe four yards off his line - but it was a towering header.

9.10pm GMT

Sam Vokes brings Burnley back into the game with an excellent header!

9.09pm GMT

39 min Newcastle are in control of the game now, and the home crowd are increasingly restless.

9.06pm GMT

37 min The corner is worked short to Kenedy, who slices high and wide from 20 yards.

9.06pm GMT

36 min Schar drills a brilliant crossfield pass to Ritchie, who wins a corner off Lennon...

9.03pm GMT

31 min Burnley started the game full of pep but they have looked forlorn since the second goal went in.

8.57pm GMT

27 min Newcastle took three points from their first 10 games. A win here would make it nine from the last three.

8.55pm GMT

25 min The scoreline is harsh on Burnley, who have played most of the football in the first 25 minutes. Newcastle will not care one jot, and nor should they.

8.54pm GMT

This was a more orthodox set-piece goal. Ritchie worked a short corner and hit an inswinging cross towards Clark, who steered an accomplished header across Hart and into the far corner.

8.53pm GMT

Newcastle have scored again from a right-wing corner!

8.52pm GMT

22 min Newcastle break down the other end, where Rondon’s shot is kicked behind for a corner.

8.51pm GMT

21 min Wood hits a vicious, dipping shot from 25 yards which goes through Dubravka’s hands and hits him straight in the face. The late movement of the ball caught him by surprise.

8.50pm GMT

20 min Perez slips past Lowton on the right of the box, but Long comes across to make an important tackle.

8.48pm GMT

18 min Burnley are playing some nice, snappy football, though they haven’t really created anything of note.

8.45pm GMT

16 min Diame is penalised but not booked for a late tackle on Lowton.

8.43pm GMT

14 min Newcastle keep the ball for 30 seconds or so before Kenedy’s long-range shot is blocked.

8.42pm GMT

12 min It’s like a training exercise at the moment, Burnley attack versus Newcastle defence. Both are doing their jobs pretty well. Cork floats a lovely pass out to Lowton, whose very deep cross is sliced wide on the run by Wood. It was a tricky chance.

8.39pm GMT

10 min Burnley are playing at a good tempo, with Lennon especially lively on the right.

8.38pm GMT

8 min Burnley have had all of the ball since the goal. Newcastle are usually happy to sit in at 0-0 away from home, so they’ll be thrilled to do so with a 1-0 lead. Perez and Kenedy should be a threat on the break.

8.36pm GMT

6 min Scratch that: it was going wide, so it’s a Mee own goal.

8.35pm GMT

5 min I think Fernandez’s shot was on target, in which case it’ll go down as his goal, though it would have been an easy save for Hart without the deflection.

8.35pm GMT

The goal came from a right-wing corner that only half cleared by Burnley. Eventually the ball came to Fernandez, whose speculative shot from 20 yards took a deflection off Ben Mee and looped over Joe Hart.

8.34pm GMT

Newcastle take an early lead!

8.33pm GMT

3 min Diame’s long-range shot deflects off Long for a corner.

8.31pm GMT

2 min Newcastle are actually playing with Ciaran Clark in a back three. Matt Ritchie and DeAndre Yedlin are playing as wing backs.

8.30pm GMT

1 min Peep peep! Burnley get the match under way. They are in claret and blue; Newcastle are in black and white stripes.

8.27pm GMT

The players emerge from the tunnel to the rousing sound of Wake Up by Arcade Fire. The Burnley DJ has just gone up in my estimation. If they play Flatlining by the Amazing Snakeheads every time a goal is scored I’ll be even more impressed.

8.09pm GMT

Pre-match interviews

Sean Dyche

8.01pm GMT

Nice footballers in shops getting coffee

“If we extend the definition of current, I’d go with Romelu Lukaku,” says Rob Edwards. “His interview answers are genuinely thoughtful and devoid of cliches.”

8.00pm GMT

A bit more news from the Press Association on the medical emergency at Turf Moor

“Kick-off at Turf Moor was pushed back by half an hour until 8.30pm after referees’ assessor Eddie Wolstenholme collapsed in the tunnel.

7.53pm GMT

“Hi Rob,” says Shaun Wilkinson. “With all the negativity and aggression swirling around the world at the moment (Brexit, Trump, Salvini, Boca vs River and so on) I want to lighten the mood and think of nice things. Which current footballer, in your opinion, would be the nicest one to go and have a coffee and a chat with? I am going for Heung-Min Son.”

Leroy Lita probably.

7.51pm GMT

Kick off at tonight's game will be delayed by 30 minutes, due to a medical emergency in the players' tunnel. Neither team or their staff are affected. The person involved has been taken to hospital in a conscious state.

7.43pm GMT

The kick-off has been delayed by half an hour due to a medical emergency in the players’ tunnel. Sky Sports’ Greg Whelan reports that the person, who wasn’t a player on either side, is conscious and has been taken to hospital.

7.20pm GMT

Pre-match listening

7.04pm GMT

Burnley (4-4-2) Hart; Lowton, Long, Mee, Taylor; Lennon, Cork, Defour, Brady; Vokes, Wood.
Substitutes: Heaton, Gibson, Bardsley, Hendrick, Westwood, Barnes, Vydra.

Newcastle (3-4-2-1) Dubravka; Schar, Fernandez, Clark; Yedlin, Dame, Ki, Ritchie; Perez, Kenedy; Rondon.
Substitutes: Woodman, Manquillo, Murphy, Shelvey, Hayden, Atsu, Joselu.

5.30pm GMT

Hello. It’s getting pretty snug down the bottom of the Premier League. Only one point separates the bottom six, a group which includes the two teams playing tonight. Burnley and Newcastle have each done a stretch at the bottom of the table; now they are 17th and 15th respectively, separated only by goal difference.

This is a meeting of pragmatists. Sean Dyche and Rafa Benitez aren’t synonymous with sexxy football, and there are plenty predicting a 0-0 draw tonight, but there’s much to admire about two of the Premier League’s bigger overachievers. Newcastle’s form has picked up in recent weeks, with wins in their last two games. Burnley have taken a few poundings of late, but it would still be a surprise if either of these sides was in a relegation battle come the spring.

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Published on November 26, 2018 14:26

England seal whitewash in Sri Lanka with third Test win – as it happened

England completed a series whitewash over Sri Lanka by bowling the hosts out for 284 on the fourth day at Colombo, sealing a 42-run win in the third Test

10.40am GMT

And with that, we shall leave you. Unless I’ve forgotten something that’s it for Guardian OBOs for 2018. Thanks to everyone for reading - it’s been a pleasure, mostly, and we’ll see you again next year.

10.31am GMT

Brian Withington writes: “Nice to see Jack Leach being interviewed after the conclusion, and so succinctly and genuinely answering the rhetorical question as to whether Test cricket is all it’s cracked up to be? “Yep”.

10.31am GMT

Here’s a quick report from the final day - Vic Marks will be back with a fuller summary a bit later.

10.29am GMT

“I’m proud of everyone,” says Joe Root. “It’s been a real team effort, which makes it even sweeter. It’s been a secret of our success that we’ve been able to turn up to each ground and pick a team we think will win there.”

10.27am GMT

Ben Foakes is man of the series. Quite a thing, considering he wasn’t even in the squad at the start of the series, and even then brought in as a specialist keeper and he ended up as the top run-scorer for both teams. “I’m just going with the flow really,” he handsomely says.

10.24am GMT

Jonny Bairstow is named man of the match for his superb 110 in the first innings. “It’s been an up and down series for me,” he understates. He’s cagey about whether the No.3 spot is now his own, but he’ll almost certainly be there for the West Indies series at least.

10.22am GMT

Quite a performance from England, all told. Of course, there are the caveats about this Sri Lanka side, in transition anyway after the last of this generation’s greats retired following the first Test but who have been without a couple of big players at various parts of the series: they are, in short, no good.

But for England to whitewash their first overseas, three Test series since 1963, at the start of the post-Alastair Cook era, is still a significant achievement.

10.11am GMT

“I’m absolutely knackered,” notes Jack Leach. “It was quite a big moment, I think,” he continues, offering significant understatement about the run-out that he manufactured with a brilliant throw down of the stumps.

10.09am GMT

Well, a much better day of cricket than anticipated, but the result most expected eventually. Sri Lanka batted as well as England bowled badly at times, particularly Kusal Mendis, Roshen da Silva and Malinda Pushpakumara at the end there. But it was fitting that Jack Leach took the clinching wicket at the end there: superb figures of 28.2-4-72-4, which would have been even better had Pushpakumara not chanced his arm for a bit.

10.05am GMT

Umpire’s call! My days, clipping leg stump, and that’s the match!

10.03am GMT

Leach traps Lakmal lbw, the finger goes up but Mr DRS will decide for certain...

10.03am GMT

We’re back out. For how long?

9.47am GMT

Peter Salmon has drifted off into a reverie about old friends: “Yes great year, thanks to everyone at OBO. Highlight of course was Cook’s last match. Wonder what he’s doing now. Half nine in the UK, I imagine he’s cut come firewood into absolutely equal lengths, made the family breakfast, boiled eggs with soldiers cut into absolutely equal lengths, and is now off down the shops for a Farmer’s Weekly and some fresh bread from the local baker. But still time to chat to the postie! Miss him I do.”

9.47am GMT

“Alternatively the fourth umpire’s leather briefcase might contain ‘My dirty undies, Dude. The laundry. The whites.....’” offers Kevin Ryan.

9.44am GMT

And that’s tea. England obviously need the one wicket, but at the very least Sri Lanka are making it ticklish for them. Leach and bits of Moeen’s latter spell aside, England haven’t really bowled well, and as Mike Atherton said on commentary, have had the air of a side who expected to rock up and be awarded the win. It’s been a much more interesting day than we expected.

9.42am GMT

86th over: Sri Lanka 284-9 (Lakmal 11, Pushpakumara 42) - 43 runs required to win Well looky here, it’s Stuart Broad for the first time today. And the first ball hits Pushpakumara on the head, as he tries to sway out of the way of a short one. Nasty. He needs a little attention from the physio, clearly a little shaken but he carries on. He ducks nicely away from the next one, then gets off strike with a single. Good stuff.

9.32am GMT

85th over: Sri Lanka 281-9 (Lakmal 10, Pushpakumara 41) - 46 runs required to win Lakmal brilliantly back cuts for four, and that’s Root’s cue to ask for the new ball. Mo will have five balls with it, the first of which Lakmal flicks for a single to bring up the 50 partnership: fine batting from the pair of them. Pushpakumara sweeps another four, and England are definitely getting twitchy now.

9.29am GMT

84th over: Sri Lanka 271-9 (Lakmal 5, Pushpakumara 36) “May I just register my strong objection to this gratuitous casual postponement/cancellation of the tea interval,” writes stickler for tradition Kim Thonger. “Some things should be sacrosanct and afternoon tea is one of them. Furthermore, what happens to the Victoria sponge if tea isn’t taken at all and they move straight to champagne victory celebration? You can’t eat sponge cake with champagne, it’s terribly déclassé.”

While Kim is pondering light refreshments, Pushmakumara sweeps, not entirely convincingly, but gets two runs for it. 56 required now...

9.26am GMT

83rd over: Sri Lanka 267-9 (Lakmal 4, Pushpakumara 33) “Why not just all the OBO writers gather in a pub to discuss the year’s cricket while someone liveblogs the discussion. I’d follow that!” writes Robin Hazlehurst. Bless you Robin, but I suspect only you and our mums would read that. And even then, my ma is quite busy.

9.25am GMT

And it wasn’t just desperation! The ball missed the inside-edge, and was going down leg so the lbw was out of the question too.

9.24am GMT

Lakmal is given out for a caught behind, but obviously he has to review it...

9.23am GMT

82nd over: Sri Lanka 266-9 (Lakmal 4, Pushpakumara 32) Pushmakumara continues to Go For It: he clears the front leg and hammers one just past mid-off and to the boundary, but is then banjaxed by a googly. Hit the pad but was turning too much. Stuart Broad is loosening - the fourth umpire is waiting at the boundary edge with what looks like a leather satchel. Presumably contains some important papers, his lunch and some new balls.

9.19am GMT

81st over: Sri Lanka 260-9 (Lakmal 3, Pushpakumara 27) “Would England not prefer tea to be taken, given it’s pretty much guaranteed to result in a wicket the 1st over after tea?” asks Hugh Maguire. Possibly, but I don’t think that’s how these things are decided.

After a two and a pair of singles, Sri Lanka now need 67 to win. When do England fans start getting nervous? The new ball is available, should Root want it.

9.15am GMT

80th over: Sri Lanka 256-9 (Lakmal 2, Pushpakumara 24) Here’s Dilly Rashid to, Joe Root hopes, mop up this last wicket. He doesn’t, at least not in that over. Incidentally, technically it’s tea time but I assume we’ll just be carrying on until there’s a result.

9.12am GMT

79th over: Sri Lanka 255-9 (Lakmal 2, Pushpakumara 23) Pushpakumara goes big at Mo but only gets an inside edge. Then one spits off the pitch and misses everything, including Foakes, and Sri Lanka collect four byes.

“As we near The End, thanks to all the OBO writers for another enjoyable year,” very nicely writes John Starbuck. “Is it too much to hope that the Guardian will do a 2018 OBO highlights piece?”

9.09am GMT

78th over: Sri Lanka 249-9 (Lakmal 1, Pushpakumara 22) Pushpakumara is playing England like a fiddle here. Sort of. He sweeps a full one to mid-wicket, then cuts the overcorrection to point, then goes one (two) better with a honking great six straight down the ground. It will almost certainly be in vain, but this is a fun way to finish.

9.06am GMT

77th over: Sri Lanka 235-9 (Lakmal 1, Pushpakumara 8) Big lbw shout but again there was an inside-edge from Lakmal, who follows it up with a big hoy that drops short of long-on. Then two more pleading, begging, loud lbw appeals, neither of which are given, and as it turns out correctly. No reviews left for England, remember.

9.03am GMT

76th over: Sri Lanka 235-9 (Lakmal 1, Pushpakumara 8) Leach is haemorrhaging runs now: five from the over! Five! (5)! A single, then quite a nice Pushpakumara sweep past fine leg to the boundary. Quick reminder that Sri Lanka need 92 more runs to win.

9.00am GMT

75th over: Sri Lanka 230-9 (Lakmal 0, Pushpakumara 4) Pushpakumara begins like he’s going to lose having a bit of fun, lashing a wide half-volley to the boundary.

“What has been the funnest moment of the series?” writes Alexander Howard Jones, chartered analyst. “Mine is Joe Root coming out at number 4 in the second innings of the second test, after Leach was nightwatchman.”

9.00am GMT

No dice. That woody noise came from - wait for it - his bat.

8.59am GMT

Looks like a pretty hopeful one because there was a very woody noise from Pushpakumara, but England are going upstairs to get this wrapped before tea.

8.55am GMT

And it did just flick the pad, going on to hit the top of middle-off! What a review! Last rites now for Sri Lanka.

8.54am GMT

Roshen goes back to Mo, appears to chop it point-wards but England think it hit his pad first. Upstairs we go...

8.53am GMT

74th over: Sri Lanka 226-8 (Roshen 65, Lakmal 0) I bring you the startling news that Leach has conceded a run, to Roshen as he ran down the track to the last ball of the over, desperate to retain strike. Leach’s figures balloon to 26-4-53-3 for the innings.

8.51am GMT

73rd over: Sri Lanka 225-8 (Roshen 64, Lakmal 0) “On the subject of things that don’t happen but should (appealing when the batsman picks it up),” writes Ian Forth, “why do umpires never mention they’re checking that the bowler’s arm has straightened more than the specified number of degrees on DRS? It’s part of the laws of the game, after all.”

Unless someone who knows better can correct me, I’d assume it’s as simple as they already have lots to think about with those DRSs. If the umps suspected someone was chucking, they might ask the question.

8.48am GMT

Bounce from Mo, Perera flicks it onto his thigh pad and the Great Black Hole of Jennings swallows the thing at short-leg.

8.46am GMT

72nd over: Sri Lanka 224-7 (Roshen 63, Perera 5) Leach has been on the button since returning to the attack: that’s a third maiden on the bounce, so his figures in this spell read 4-3-4-1. And that four was Dickwella’s boundary, who he got out the ball after. Decent.

8.42am GMT

71st over: Sri Lanka 224-7 (Roshen 63, Perera 5) Roshen defends one then picks the ball up to give to the fielders - why on earth do batsmen do that? It would be v poor form, but one day an enterprising captain is going to appeal from one of those.

8.39am GMT

70th over: Sri Lanka 222-7 (Roshen 61, Perera 5) Even though he’s played very well, Roshen is still being troubled by Leach, to the tune of a semi-decent lbw shout and one that ripped past his edge.

8.36am GMT

69th over: Sri Lanka 221-7 (Roshen 60, Perera 5) Roshen comes down the track and gets into a frightful muddle, missing one from Moeen that turned more than anticipated - too far, indeed, for the lbw appeal. Perera then tries to hit his nerves away by slapping a not 100% convincing shot in front of mid-wicket, getting four anyways.

8.33am GMT

68th over: Sri Lanka 215-7 (Roshen 59, Perera 0) Leach essentially sends down five identical balls to Roshen - pitched on middle-off, turning away a bit - then really mixes things up with one that pitches outside off and turns away a bit.

8.30am GMT

67th over: Sri Lanka 215-7 (Roshen 59, Perera 0) New bat Perera, shall we say, doesn’t look relaxed at the crease. He fidgets around and almost chops right onto his stumps, pops up a near bat-pad chance between short leg and leg slip, then a claim for a catch at the latter position. Alas, rather inconveniently for England, he didn’t hit it.

8.27am GMT

66th over: Sri Lanka 214-7 (Roshen 58, Perera 0) Guy Hornsby sent this email before that wicket, but it’s all the more perfect now: “I was halfway through an elaborate and rather desperate jinx attempt just when Leach ruined it all. Is there any more he could really do in his first full series overseas, bar clean up the tail, clean the dressing room and perhaps load the baggage onto the plane? You could imagine he’d have a go. What a heartwarmingly brilliant effort it’s been.”

8.24am GMT

Leach returns to the attack, welcomed by Dickwella taking a few steps down and nailing him dead straight to the boundary. And then he’s out! Classic Dickwella. He shuffles back to a slightly shorter ball, tries to nudge the ball round the corner but only manages to nudge onto his pads, then into the ever-reliable hands of Jennings at short-leg.

8.21am GMT

65th over: Sri Lanka 210-6 (Roshen 58, Dickwella 15) Mo continues after drinks. He gets a good bit of turn and they go up for a 75% enthusiasm lbw shout, but it was hitting him outside the line, spinning down leg and bouncing over the top. But other than that, etc and so on. Dickwella then decides to sod all this poking and prodding and throws everything at a reverse-sweep: it’s not exactly what you’d call controlled, but it says four runs here in the scorebook so he will not care.

8.16am GMT

Morning all, if it is morning where you are. I’ll be honest, when Rob and I arranged which half of the day each of us would be taking, I wasn’t expecting to be doing much over-by-overing today. But v good, tick, well done to Sri Lanka for batting so well, and naughty naughty, cross cross cross, see me afterwards England for their bowling.

8.12am GMT

64th over: Sri Lanka 203-6 (Roshen 57, Dickwella 9) Dickwella brings up the 200 for Sri Lanka before Roshen survives an LBW appeal from Rashid. England thought it have hit the boot first but they were never going to risk their last review.

That’s it from me. Nick Miller will be your light, your guide, your one, your only for the rest of the day. You can contact him on nick.miller@theguardian.com or @nickmiller79. Thanks for your company and emails. Bye!

8.10am GMT

63rd over: Sri Lanka 198-6 (Roshen 55, Dickwella 7) Roshen heaves Moeen in the air and just wide of Root, running round to his right from deep mid-off. That was a rare loose stroke and he was lucky to get away with it. As was Dickwella when he was dropped by Jennings off the last ball of the over. He sliced a slog-sweep over the head of Foakes, and Jennings, running round from short fine leg, put down a difficult low chance as he dived forward.

8.06am GMT

62nd over: Sri Lanka 194-6 (Roshen 52, Dickwella 6) England have been a lot better since lunch. There still isn’t much happening, and it took a superb run-out for them to break the sixth-wicket partnership, but they have bowled with greater control and purpose.

8.03am GMT

61st over: Sri Lanka 194-6 (Roshen 52, Dickwella 6) With the left-handed Dickwella at the crease, Moeen Ali comes on to replace Jack Leach. Instead he almost gets the right-handed Roshen with two lovely off-breaks which hit the pad outside the line of off stump. That’s a really smooth start from Moeen, who was nowhere near his best this morning.

7.58am GMT

60th over: Sri Lanka 192-6 (Roshen 51, Dickwella 5) Dickwella is hit on the helmet after missing an attempted sweep at Rashid. You don’t see that happen too often against a spinner. Broad then does superbly to save two runs on the long leg boundary. Every little helps.

7.55am GMT

59th over: Sri Lanka 187-6 (Roshen 50, Dickwella 1) Roshen pushes Leach for a single to reach an accomplished half-century, his fifth in Tests. But that wicket has made England strong favourites again.

7.52am GMT

58th over: Sri Lanka 185-6 (Roshen 49, Dickwella 0 )

7.49am GMT

Mendis has been run out by a spectacular piece of fielding from Jack Leach! Roshen turned Rashid towards deep backward square and came back for a second - and he would have got away with it but for a brilliant pick-up and throw from Leach. He’s a left-arm spinner who throws with his right arm, and this one slammed into the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Mendis well short.

7.45am GMT

57th over: Sri Lanka 181-5 (Mendis 86, Roshen 45) Broad misses an excellent run-out chance. Mendis played tip and run to mid-off and was more than halfway down the track when Roshen sent him back. He would have been in big trouble with a better throw to the keeper Foakes, but Broad’s was well off-target.

7.42am GMT

56th over: Sri Lanka 181-5 (Mendis 86, Roshen 45) Rashid is starting to look more threatening, and has an optimistic LBW appeal turned down when Roshen pushes around a rare googly. It was going down the leg side.

7.39am GMT

55th over: Sri Lanka 180-5 (Mendis 85, Roshen 45) The second new ball, due after 80 overs, could be very important for England if this partnership carries on. Experience suggests England are still favourites, and that one wicket would change the game as it did in the fourth innings at Pallekele, but Sri Lanka are in control at the moment.

7.35am GMT

54th over: Sri Lanka 178-5 (Mendis 84, Roshen 44) A much better over from Rashid, though there’s still no sign of the googly. Sri Lanka need a further 149 runs to win.

7.32am GMT

53rd over: Sri Lanka 177-5 (Mendis 84, Roshen 43) Another good over from Leach, who has figures of 18-1-43-2.

7.31am GMT

England have lost their first review. Leach appealead unsuccessfully for caught behind after beating Mendis with another lovely delivery. Tellingly, Foakes didn’t really appeal - but Root decided to review nonetheless, probably because of the match situation as much as anything. Replays showed it missed the outside edge.

7.28am GMT

52nd over: Sri Lanka 176-5 (Mendis 84, Roshen 42) A loopy full toss from Rashid is blasted through midwicket for four by Mendis. England have a problem because they have no control at one end. Rashid and Moeen have gone for 78 from 16 overs today.

7.24am GMT

51st over: Sri Lanka 171-5 (Mendis 80, Roshen 41) Mendis is beaten twice by excellent deliveries from Leach, the second of which leads to a stumping referral. Mendis’s back foot stayed grounded so he’s fine. Leach has started very well after lunch.

“Are they a bit demob happy, I wonder, Rob?” says Bill Hargreaves. “We should never have mentioned the Christiano-Pagan festival earlier on. Still, I’m sure a rousing helping of rice pudding during the break has done the trick.”

7.20am GMT

50th over: Sri Lanka 170-5 (Mendis 80, Roshen 40) It’s Adil Rashid from the other end, and he also turns one past Roshen’s outside edge. Four from the over. England have had some tight wins this year - 31 runs, 60 runs, 57 runs - and this may turn out to be another. They would like to break this partnership before Sri Lanka’s target drops below 100.

7.16am GMT

49th over: Sri Lanka 166-5 (Mendis 77, Roshen 39) Peep peep! Jack Leach begins the second session to Roshen, who sweeps fine for two. Leach was comfortably the best of the England spinners this morning and will probably have a lot of work to do this afternoon. He ends a fine first over by turning one past Roshen’s outside edge.

7.10am GMT

“The first session,” says Gary Naylor, “has been another example of how Test cricket affords endless opportunities to explore one’s ignorance.”

6.33am GMT

48th over: Sri Lanka 164-5 (Mendis 77, Roshen 37) Moeen, who bowled so poorly this morning, returns for the final over before lunch and picks up where he left off. Roshen Silva reverse sweeps his first ball emphatically for four, and then Mendis pulls a half-tracker to backward square leg for another boundary. That’s excellent batting, and an appropriate way to end a brilliant session for Sri Lanka. They are now halfway to their target of 327 and have a chance of a famous victory. See you in half an hour for the afternoon session.

6.29am GMT

47th over: Sri Lanka 155-5 (Mendis 73, Roshen 32) Stokes’ last over of the morning is uneventful, with the impressive Roshen Silva working the penultimate delivery for a single. He looks a really good player, somebody Sri Lanka can pencil in for the medium term.

“Moeen did bring himself on to bowl a bit of medium pace seam in one of Worcestershire’s final matches of the season, seemingly in a passive-aggressive attempt to show his bowlers how to bowl line and length,” says Sam Tudor. “Got a wicket too.”

6.25am GMT

46th over: Sri Lanka 154-5 (Mendis 73, Roshen 31) Mendis skids back in his crease to flick-pull Leach for four, a terrific shot. England have been poor this morning, but Sri Lanka have been terrific.

6.21am GMT

45th over: Sri Lanka 15o-5 (Mendis 69, Roshen 31) Mendis does very well to get on top of a short ball from Stokes, who is starting to rev up after a slow start to his spell. Another short ball ballons over Foakes’s head for four byes; to compound Stokes’s misery, he is no-balled and warned for bowling too many bouncers in the over.

6.12am GMT

44th over: Sri Lanka 142-5 (Mendis 68, Roshen 31) Jack Leach replaces Adil Rashid, who bowled a mixed spell of 8-0-37-0, and Sri Lanka help themselves to three more runs. This is getting pretty interesting.

6.08am GMT

43rd over: Sri Lanka 140-5 (Mendis 66, Roshen 30) Roshen plays a lovely stroke, flicking a rare full ball from Stokes through wide mid-on for four. England need a timeout, or better still a lunch break. It’s just over 20 minutes away. Stokes is starting to get angry; he ends the over with a beautifully directed short ball that is immaculately defended by Roshen.

“Ambidexterity would indicate someone who uses both hands (not at the same time, though that could be a challenge - do the Laws mention this?), but a bowler using both seam/speed and spin to suit the conditions would be referred to as a Fluidity bowler, or Metromethod,” says John Starbuck. “Or perhaps a back-garden bowler?”

6.03am GMT

42nd over: Sri Lanka 136-5 (Mendis 66, Roshen 26) England are struggling here. There is still a long way to go for Sri Lanka - they need a further 191 - but they are playing very comfortably at the moment.

6.01am GMT

41st over: Sri Lanka 132-5 (Mendis 64, Roshen 24) Roshen turns Stokes for two to bring up a calm, authoritative fifty partnership. Stokes switches over the wicket and beats Roshen with a good-length delivery.

5.55am GMT

40th over: Sri Lanka 130-5 (Mendis 64, Roshen 22)

5.53am GMT

39th over: Sri Lanka 128-5 (Mendis 63, Roshen 21) Ben Stokes replaces Jack Leach, who bowled pretty well this morning. He goes straight around the wicket to Mendis, who pulls the first ball for two and ignores the rest. Stokes won’t be offering many drives in this spell.

“Morning Rob,” says Kim Thonger. “Idly wondering why more modern bowlers can’t emulate Garry Sobers or Tony Greig, who could both bowl spin or seam according to pitch or match conditions. I’d like to see Moeen charge in occasionally and deliver a full-blooded throat ball, or Stuart Broad sneak up on a batsman with a cleverly disguised googly from time to time. Am I being greedy?”

5.48am GMT

38th over: Sri Lanka 127-5 (Mendis 62, Roshen 21) Rashid flicks an absolute jaffa past Mendis’s outside edge, which allows Foakes to demonstrate his immaculate glovework as the ball spits towards his right shoulder. He is pure class.

“So,” says Hywel Davies. “In four years’ time, England might be top Test nation and World Cup winners in footie, but it will be Wales preparing to defend the more important world title they won in Japan in 2019! Sigh, who am I kidding, being woken by this cat at 4.50am has left me delirious. Anyone lost a black cat near Highgate cemetery in London recently? Cos we’d really, really like to give it back to its real owners...”

5.44am GMT

37th over: Sri Lanka 125-5 (Mendis 61, Roshen 20) Leach is milked for six runs in his 13th over. Sri Lanka are playing with such comfort against the spinners that it might be time for Ben Stokes to change the tempo.

5.41am GMT

36th over: Sri Lanka 119-5 (Mendis 57, Roshen 18) Roshen edges a fine delivery from Rashid just short of Stokes at slip. For every good ball there is often a bad ball with Rashid, however, and Roshen puts that away for four.

5.37am GMT

35th over: Sri Lanka 114-5 (Mendis 56, Roshen 14) Roshen paddles Leach round the corner for two before being beaten by another excellent delivery. Leach has produced at least one of those in every over today.

5.31am GMT

34th over: Sri Lanka 111-5 (Mendis 55, Roshen 12) Roshen Silva drags a loose ball from Rashid behind the keeper for four. That’s the end of a scruffy first hour from England, who haven’t bowled especially well. Has Joe Root taken this team as far as he can?

5.27am GMT

33rd over: Sri Lanka 105-5 (Mendis 54, Roshen 7) Roshen plops Leach towards the vacant short leg area and inexplicably tries to steal a run. Mendis sends him back and he survives when Foakes’s underarm flick is off target.

5.23am GMT

32nd over: Sri Lanka 104-5 (Mendis 54, Roshen 6) Roshen Silva has had a few problems with Rashid’s googly in this series. I don’t think Rashid has bowled it yet but it won’t be long. It’s a bit flat out there but I suspect England, who have preached patience with the ball throughout the series, budgeted for some Sri Lankan resistance.

5.21am GMT

31st over: Sri Lanka 100-5 (Mendis 52, Roshen 4) Leach beats Roshen with another beautiful delivery. He has bowled pretty well this morning in helpful conditions and continues to wheel away. England would like to see the back of Mendis, who is Sri Lanka’s last realistic hope of an unlikely victory.

5.16am GMT

30th over: Sri Lanka 97-5 (Mendis 50, Roshen 3) Mendis larrups Rashid down the ground for four to reach 49, and an easy single takes him to a charismatic fifty from only 55 balls. Well played.

5.11am GMT

29th over: Sri Lanka 91-5 (Mendis 45, Roshen 2) Leach is now England’s joint leading wickettaker in the series; he and Moeen Ali have 16 apiece. It’s all pretty quiet out there, with Sri Lanka, Mendis in particular, playing well.

5.08am GMT

28th over: Sri Lanka 90-5 (Mendis 45, Roshen 1) Adil Rashid replaces Moeen Ali, who was nowhere near his best. Mendis cuffs consecutive short deliveries for four and then three and then the new batsman Roshen Silva is beaten by his first ball.

5.04am GMT

27th over: Sri Lanka 82-5 (Mendis 37, Roshen 0) That was the last ball of the over.

5.02am GMT

That’s been coming. After beating Sandakan in every over this morning, Leach finds the edge with a good delivery and Ben Stokes does the rest at slip.

4.58am GMT

26th over: Sri Lanka 81-4 (Mendis 37, Sandakan 7) It’s not happening for Moeen at the moment. Kusal Mendis, who is playing really nicely, works a pair of twos round the corner.

“I see your Fall reference and raise you ‘The Dutch are waiting in four languages at least’,” says Ian Forth. “Though I doubt even the Dutch think they’ll win the cricket World Cup.”

4.55am GMT

25th over: Sri Lanka 76-4 (Mendis 32, Sandakan 7) Leach has been much the better bowler this morning, and he again beats Sandakan with a delivery that bounces unpleasantly outside off stump.

“Afternoon Rob,” says Phil Withall. “So, like my eldest daughter, the OBO is 17 years old. Also like my daughter it has provided me with joy and despair, sleepless nights and exhausted days, hopes fulfilled and dreams dashed. I’m still very happy how they have both turned out. (My other daughter is ok too, can’t be accused of having favourites…)”

4.53am GMT

24th over: Sri Lanka 75-4 (Mendis 31, Sandakan 7) Moeen has been unusually loose so far, and Sandakan drives a half-volley confidently for four.

4.48am GMT

23rd over: Sri Lanka 70-4 (Mendis 30, Sandakan 3) Leach again beats Sandakan with another unplayable delivery. That was straight outta Taunton. Sandakan is doing well to survive because there is no consistency to the spin - some are turning miles, others are going straight on.

4.45am GMT

22nd over: Sri Lanka 70-4 (Mendis 30, Sandakan 2) Mendis pulls a loose ball from Moeen for four. He looks like he’s going to play his shots, and why not.

“Morning Rob,” says Simon Richards. “Just putting in an Ashes prediction before Glenn McGrath: 5-0. Can’t see the Aussies winning a Test against this squad next summer...”

4.42am GMT

21st over: Sri Lanka 64-4 (Mendis 25, Sandakan 2) Leach beats Sandakan with a thoroughly unplayable delivery, which dips onto middle and leg and rips past the top of off.

“’Morning, Rob, probably for the last time this year,” says John Starbuck. “Next time it’ll be reversed for the West Indies and we shan’t have to rise at such an idiotic hour, but it’s been worth it, you have to say. Might as well get the seasonal greetings out of the way then; Merry Xmas!”

4.39am GMT

20th over: Sri Lanka 63-4 (Mendis 24, Sandakan 2) A loopy full toss from Moeen is clubbed over midwicket for six by Mendis. That must have slipped out of the hand. Sandakan then survives a big LBW appeal. England decide not to review, and that’s probably the right decision. I think he was outside the line of off stump.

4.36am GMT

19th over: Sri Lanka 56-4 (Mendis 17, Sandakan 2) It’s Jack Leach from the other end. Sandakan is beaten by a vicious delivery which dips onto off stump and then kicks past the edge. This might not take too long as the ball is turning sharply.

4.32am GMT

18th over: Sri Lanka 53-4 (Mendis 15, Sandakan 1) Moeen Ali opens the bowling with an threatening maiden to the nightwatchman Sandakan. The Barmy Army are singing Jerusalem in honour of Peter Marples, one of the travelling supports, who died overnight at the age of 61.

4.24am GMT

Pre-play reading

4.22am GMT

An email “What are the realistic chances of England being World Cup winners in football and cricket four years from now?” asks Ian Forth. “Asking for a friend.”

English footballers in Qatar weather? Good luck with that.

6.26pm GMT

Good morning! Remember when England won 3-0 in Sri Lanka? Don’t worry, you will. The reaction to this series win have been fairly muted – it’s barely been back-page news, never mind front-page – but I suspect history will be very kind to a quietly impressive achievement. If England wrap up a 3-0 win today, it will be their biggest series win in Asia and their biggest whitewash overseas since 1962-63.

You would expect England to finish this match with the minimum of fuss. Sri Lanka, who need 327 for victory, will resume on 53 for four after another difficult evening session for their batsmen.

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Published on November 26, 2018 02:40

Sri Lanka chasing 327 to beat England in day four of third Test – live!

Over-by-over report from the third Test in ColomboSri Lanka chasing 327 for victoryButtler a disciple of patience as England pursue whitewash Send your emails to Nick or tweet @nickmiller79

9.32am GMT

85th over: Sri Lanka 281-9 (Lakmal 10, Pushpakumara 41) - 46 runs required to win Lakmal brilliantly back cuts for four, and that’s Root’s cue to ask for the new ball. Mo will have five balls with it, the first of which Lakmal flicks for a single to bring up the 50 partnership: fine batting from the pair of them. Pushpakumara sweeps another four, and England are definitely getting twitchy now.

9.29am GMT

84th over: Sri Lanka 271-9 (Lakmal 5, Pushpakumara 36) “May I just register my strong objection to this gratuitous casual postponement/cancellation of the tea interval,” writes stickler for tradition Kim Thonger. “Some things should be sacrosanct and afternoon tea is one of them. Furthermore, what happens to the Victoria sponge if tea isn’t taken at all and they move straight to champagne victory celebration? You can’t eat sponge cake with champagne, it’s terribly déclassé.”

While Kim is pondering light refreshments, Pushmakumara sweeps, not entirely convincingly, but gets two runs for it. 56 required now...

9.26am GMT

83rd over: Sri Lanka 267-9 (Lakmal 4, Pushpakumara 33) “Why not just all the OBO writers gather in a pub to discuss the year’s cricket while someone liveblogs the discussion. I’d follow that!” writes Robin Hazlehurst. Bless you Robin, but I suspect only you and our mums would read that. And even then, my ma is quite busy.

9.25am GMT

And it wasn’t just desperation! The ball missed the inside-edge, and was going down leg so the lbw was out of the question too.

9.24am GMT

Lakmal is given out for a caught behind, but obviously he has to review it...

9.23am GMT

82nd over: Sri Lanka 266-9 (Lakmal 4, Pushpakumara 32) Pushmakumara continues to Go For It: he clears the front leg and hammers one just past mid-off and to the boundary, but is then banjaxed by a googly. Hit the pad but was turning too much. Stuart Broad is loosening - the fourth umpire is waiting at the boundary edge with what looks like a leather satchel. Presumably contains some important papers, his lunch and some new balls.

9.19am GMT

81st over: Sri Lanka 260-9 (Lakmal 3, Pushpakumara 27) “Would England not prefer tea to be taken, given it’s pretty much guaranteed to result in a wicket the 1st over after tea?” asks Hugh Maguire. Possibly, but I don’t think that’s how these things are decided.

After a two and a pair of singles, Sri Lanka now need 67 to win. When do England fans start getting nervous? The new ball is available, should Root want it.

9.15am GMT

80th over: Sri Lanka 256-9 (Lakmal 2, Pushpakumara 24) Here’s Dilly Rashid to, Joe Root hopes, mop up this last wicket. He doesn’t, at least not in that over. Incidentally, technically it’s tea time but I assume we’ll just be carrying on until there’s a result.

9.12am GMT

79th over: Sri Lanka 255-9 (Lakmal 2, Pushpakumara 23) Pushpakumara goes big at Mo but only gets an inside edge. Then one spits off the pitch and misses everything, including Foakes, and Sri Lanka collect four byes.

“As we near The End, thanks to all the OBO writers for another enjoyable year,” very nicely writes John Starbuck. “Is it too much to hope that the Guardian will do a 2018 OBO highlights piece?”

9.09am GMT

78th over: Sri Lanka 249-9 (Lakmal 1, Pushpakumara 22) Pushpakumara is playing England like a fiddle here. Sort of. He sweeps a full one to mid-wicket, then cuts the overcorrection to point, then goes one (two) better with a honking great six straight down the ground. It will almost certainly be in vain, but this is a fun way to finish.

9.06am GMT

77th over: Sri Lanka 235-9 (Lakmal 1, Pushpakumara 8) Big lbw shout but again there was an inside-edge from Lakmal, who follows it up with a big hoy that drops short of long-on. Then two more pleading, begging, loud lbw appeals, neither of which are given, and as it turns out correctly. No reviews left for England, remember.

9.03am GMT

76th over: Sri Lanka 235-9 (Lakmal 1, Pushpakumara 8) Leach is haemorrhaging runs now: five from the over! Five! (5)! A single, then quite a nice Pushpakumara sweep past fine leg to the boundary. Quick reminder that Sri Lanka need 92 more runs to win.

9.00am GMT

75th over: Sri Lanka 230-9 (Lakmal 0, Pushpakumara 4) Pushpakumara begins like he’s going to lose having a bit of fun, lashing a wide half-volley to the boundary.

“What has been the funnest moment of the series?” writes Alexander Howard Jones, chartered analyst. “Mine is Joe Root coming out at number 4 in the second innings of the second test, after Leach was nightwatchman.”

9.00am GMT

No dice. That woody noise came from - wait for it - his bat.

8.59am GMT

Looks like a pretty hopeful one because there was a very woody noise from Pushpakumara, but England are going upstairs to get this wrapped before tea.

8.55am GMT

And it did just flick the pad, going on to hit the top of middle-off! What a review! Last rites now for Sri Lanka.

8.54am GMT

Roshen goes back to Mo, appears to chop it point-wards but England think it hit his pad first. Upstairs we go...

8.53am GMT

74th over: Sri Lanka 226-8 (Roshen 65, Lakmal 0) I bring you the startling news that Leach has conceded a run, to Roshen as he ran down the track to the last ball of the over, desperate to retain strike. Leach’s figures balloon to 26-4-53-3 for the innings.

8.51am GMT

73rd over: Sri Lanka 225-8 (Roshen 64, Lakmal 0) “On the subject of things that don’t happen but should (appealing when the batsman picks it up),” writes Ian Forth, “why do umpires never mention they’re checking that the bowler’s arm has straightened more than the specified number of degrees on DRS? It’s part of the laws of the game, after all.”

Unless someone who knows better can correct me, I’d assume it’s as simple as they already have lots to think about with those DRSs. If the umps suspected someone was chucking, they might ask the question.

8.48am GMT

Bounce from Mo, Perera flicks it onto his thigh pad and the Great Black Hole of Jennings swallows the thing at short-leg.

8.46am GMT

72nd over: Sri Lanka 224-7 (Roshen 63, Perera 5) Leach has been on the button since returning to the attack: that’s a third maiden on the bounce, so his figures in this spell read 4-3-4-1. And that four was Dickwella’s boundary, who he got out the ball after. Decent.

8.42am GMT

71st over: Sri Lanka 224-7 (Roshen 63, Perera 5) Roshen defends one then picks the ball up to give to the fielders - why on earth do batsmen do that? It would be v poor form, but one day an enterprising captain is going to appeal from one of those.

8.39am GMT

70th over: Sri Lanka 222-7 (Roshen 61, Perera 5) Even though he’s played very well, Roshen is still being troubled by Leach, to the tune of a semi-decent lbw shout and one that ripped past his edge.

8.36am GMT

69th over: Sri Lanka 221-7 (Roshen 60, Perera 5) Roshen comes down the track and gets into a frightful muddle, missing one from Moeen that turned more than anticipated - too far, indeed, for the lbw appeal. Perera then tries to hit his nerves away by slapping a not 100% convincing shot in front of mid-wicket, getting four anyways.

8.33am GMT

68th over: Sri Lanka 215-7 (Roshen 59, Perera 0) Leach essentially sends down five identical balls to Roshen - pitched on middle-off, turning away a bit - then really mixes things up with one that pitches outside off and turns away a bit.

8.30am GMT

67th over: Sri Lanka 215-7 (Roshen 59, Perera 0) New bat Perera, shall we say, doesn’t look relaxed at the crease. He fidgets around and almost chops right onto his stumps, pops up a near bat-pad chance between short leg and leg slip, then a claim for a catch at the latter position. Alas, rather inconveniently for England, he didn’t hit it.

8.27am GMT

66th over: Sri Lanka 214-7 (Roshen 58, Perera 0) Guy Hornsby sent this email before that wicket, but it’s all the more perfect now: “I was halfway through an elaborate and rather desperate jinx attempt just when Leach ruined it all. Is there any more he could really do in his first full series overseas, bar clean up the tail, clean the dressing room and perhaps load the baggage onto the plane? You could imagine he’d have a go. What a heartwarmingly brilliant effort it’s been.”

8.24am GMT

Leach returns to the attack, welcomed by Dickwella taking a few steps down and nailing him dead straight to the boundary. And then he’s out! Classic Dickwella. He shuffles back to a slightly shorter ball, tries to nudge the ball round the corner but only manages to nudge onto his pads, then into the ever-reliable hands of Jennings at short-leg.

8.21am GMT

65th over: Sri Lanka 210-6 (Roshen 58, Dickwella 15) Mo continues after drinks. He gets a good bit of turn and they go up for a 75% enthusiasm lbw shout, but it was hitting him outside the line, spinning down leg and bouncing over the top. But other than that, etc and so on. Dickwella then decides to sod all this poking and prodding and throws everything at a reverse-sweep: it’s not exactly what you’d call controlled, but it says four runs here in the scorebook so he will not care.

8.16am GMT

Morning all, if it is morning where you are. I’ll be honest, when Rob and I arranged which half of the day each of us would be taking, I wasn’t expecting to be doing much over-by-overing today. But v good, tick, well done to Sri Lanka for batting so well, and naughty naughty, cross cross cross, see me afterwards England for their bowling.

8.12am GMT

64th over: Sri Lanka 203-6 (Roshen 57, Dickwella 9) Dickwella brings up the 200 for Sri Lanka before Roshen survives an LBW appeal from Rashid. England thought it have hit the boot first but they were never going to risk their last review.

That’s it from me. Nick Miller will be your light, your guide, your one, your only for the rest of the day. You can contact him on nick.miller@theguardian.com or @nickmiller79. Thanks for your company and emails. Bye!

8.10am GMT

63rd over: Sri Lanka 198-6 (Roshen 55, Dickwella 7) Roshen heaves Moeen in the air and just wide of Root, running round to his right from deep mid-off. That was a rare loose stroke and he was lucky to get away with it. As was Dickwella when he was dropped by Jennings off the last ball of the over. He sliced a slog-sweep over the head of Foakes, and Jennings, running round from short fine leg, put down a difficult low chance as he dived forward.

8.06am GMT

62nd over: Sri Lanka 194-6 (Roshen 52, Dickwella 6) England have been a lot better since lunch. There still isn’t much happening, and it took a superb run-out for them to break the sixth-wicket partnership, but they have bowled with greater control and purpose.

8.03am GMT

61st over: Sri Lanka 194-6 (Roshen 52, Dickwella 6) With the left-handed Dickwella at the crease, Moeen Ali comes on to replace Jack Leach. Instead he almost gets the right-handed Roshen with two lovely off-breaks which hit the pad outside the line of off stump. That’s a really smooth start from Moeen, who was nowhere near his best this morning.

7.58am GMT

60th over: Sri Lanka 192-6 (Roshen 51, Dickwella 5) Dickwella is hit on the helmet after missing an attempted sweep at Rashid. You don’t see that happen too often against a spinner. Broad then does superbly to save two runs on the long leg boundary. Every little helps.

7.55am GMT

59th over: Sri Lanka 187-6 (Roshen 50, Dickwella 1) Roshen pushes Leach for a single to reach an accomplished half-century, his fifth in Tests. But that wicket has made England strong favourites again.

7.52am GMT

58th over: Sri Lanka 185-6 (Roshen 49, Dickwella 0 )

7.49am GMT

Mendis has been run out by a spectacular piece of fielding from Jack Leach! Roshen turned Rashid towards deep backward square and came back for a second - and he would have got away with it but for a brilliant pick-up and throw from Leach. He’s a left-arm spinner who throws with his right arm, and this one slammed into the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Mendis well short.

7.45am GMT

57th over: Sri Lanka 181-5 (Mendis 86, Roshen 45) Broad misses an excellent run-out chance. Mendis played tip and run to mid-off and was more than halfway down the track when Roshen sent him back. He would have been in big trouble with a better throw to the keeper Foakes, but Broad’s was well off-target.

7.42am GMT

56th over: Sri Lanka 181-5 (Mendis 86, Roshen 45) Rashid is starting to look more threatening, and has an optimistic LBW appeal turned down when Roshen pushes around a rare googly. It was going down the leg side.

7.39am GMT

55th over: Sri Lanka 180-5 (Mendis 85, Roshen 45) The second new ball, due after 80 overs, could be very important for England if this partnership carries on. Experience suggests England are still favourites, and that one wicket would change the game as it did in the fourth innings at Pallekele, but Sri Lanka are in control at the moment.

7.35am GMT

54th over: Sri Lanka 178-5 (Mendis 84, Roshen 44) A much better over from Rashid, though there’s still no sign of the googly. Sri Lanka need a further 149 runs to win.

7.32am GMT

53rd over: Sri Lanka 177-5 (Mendis 84, Roshen 43) Another good over from Leach, who has figures of 18-1-43-2.

7.31am GMT

England have lost their first review. Leach appealead unsuccessfully for caught behind after beating Mendis with another lovely delivery. Tellingly, Foakes didn’t really appeal - but Root decided to review nonetheless, probably because of the match situation as much as anything. Replays showed it missed the outside edge.

7.28am GMT

52nd over: Sri Lanka 176-5 (Mendis 84, Roshen 42) A loopy full toss from Rashid is blasted through midwicket for four by Mendis. England have a problem because they have no control at one end. Rashid and Moeen have gone for 78 from 16 overs today.

7.24am GMT

51st over: Sri Lanka 171-5 (Mendis 80, Roshen 41) Mendis is beaten twice by excellent deliveries from Leach, the second of which leads to a stumping referral. Mendis’s back foot stayed grounded so he’s fine. Leach has started very well after lunch.

“Are they a bit demob happy, I wonder, Rob?” says Bill Hargreaves. “We should never have mentioned the Christiano-Pagan festival earlier on. Still, I’m sure a rousing helping of rice pudding during the break has done the trick.”

7.20am GMT

50th over: Sri Lanka 170-5 (Mendis 80, Roshen 40) It’s Adil Rashid from the other end, and he also turns one past Roshen’s outside edge. Four from the over. England have had some tight wins this year - 31 runs, 60 runs, 57 runs - and this may turn out to be another. They would like to break this partnership before Sri Lanka’s target drops below 100.

7.16am GMT

49th over: Sri Lanka 166-5 (Mendis 77, Roshen 39) Peep peep! Jack Leach begins the second session to Roshen, who sweeps fine for two. Leach was comfortably the best of the England spinners this morning and will probably have a lot of work to do this afternoon. He ends a fine first over by turning one past Roshen’s outside edge.

7.10am GMT

“The first session,” says Gary Naylor, “has been another example of how Test cricket affords endless opportunities to explore one’s ignorance.”

6.33am GMT

48th over: Sri Lanka 164-5 (Mendis 77, Roshen 37) Moeen, who bowled so poorly this morning, returns for the final over before lunch and picks up where he left off. Roshen Silva reverse sweeps his first ball emphatically for four, and then Mendis pulls a half-tracker to backward square leg for another boundary. That’s excellent batting, and an appropriate way to end a brilliant session for Sri Lanka. They are now halfway to their target of 327 and have a chance of a famous victory. See you in half an hour for the afternoon session.

6.29am GMT

47th over: Sri Lanka 155-5 (Mendis 73, Roshen 32) Stokes’ last over of the morning is uneventful, with the impressive Roshen Silva working the penultimate delivery for a single. He looks a really good player, somebody Sri Lanka can pencil in for the medium term.

“Moeen did bring himself on to bowl a bit of medium pace seam in one of Worcestershire’s final matches of the season, seemingly in a passive-aggressive attempt to show his bowlers how to bowl line and length,” says Sam Tudor. “Got a wicket too.”

6.25am GMT

46th over: Sri Lanka 154-5 (Mendis 73, Roshen 31) Mendis skids back in his crease to flick-pull Leach for four, a terrific shot. England have been poor this morning, but Sri Lanka have been terrific.

6.21am GMT

45th over: Sri Lanka 15o-5 (Mendis 69, Roshen 31) Mendis does very well to get on top of a short ball from Stokes, who is starting to rev up after a slow start to his spell. Another short ball ballons over Foakes’s head for four byes; to compound Stokes’s misery, he is no-balled and warned for bowling too many bouncers in the over.

6.12am GMT

44th over: Sri Lanka 142-5 (Mendis 68, Roshen 31) Jack Leach replaces Adil Rashid, who bowled a mixed spell of 8-0-37-0, and Sri Lanka help themselves to three more runs. This is getting pretty interesting.

6.08am GMT

43rd over: Sri Lanka 140-5 (Mendis 66, Roshen 30) Roshen plays a lovely stroke, flicking a rare full ball from Stokes through wide mid-on for four. England need a timeout, or better still a lunch break. It’s just over 20 minutes away. Stokes is starting to get angry; he ends the over with a beautifully directed short ball that is immaculately defended by Roshen.

“Ambidexterity would indicate someone who uses both hands (not at the same time, though that could be a challenge - do the Laws mention this?), but a bowler using both seam/speed and spin to suit the conditions would be referred to as a Fluidity bowler, or Metromethod,” says John Starbuck. “Or perhaps a back-garden bowler?”

6.03am GMT

42nd over: Sri Lanka 136-5 (Mendis 66, Roshen 26) England are struggling here. There is still a long way to go for Sri Lanka - they need a further 191 - but they are playing very comfortably at the moment.

6.01am GMT

41st over: Sri Lanka 132-5 (Mendis 64, Roshen 24) Roshen turns Stokes for two to bring up a calm, authoritative fifty partnership. Stokes switches over the wicket and beats Roshen with a good-length delivery.

5.55am GMT

40th over: Sri Lanka 130-5 (Mendis 64, Roshen 22)

5.53am GMT

39th over: Sri Lanka 128-5 (Mendis 63, Roshen 21) Ben Stokes replaces Jack Leach, who bowled pretty well this morning. He goes straight around the wicket to Mendis, who pulls the first ball for two and ignores the rest. Stokes won’t be offering many drives in this spell.

“Morning Rob,” says Kim Thonger. “Idly wondering why more modern bowlers can’t emulate Garry Sobers or Tony Greig, who could both bowl spin or seam according to pitch or match conditions. I’d like to see Moeen charge in occasionally and deliver a full-blooded throat ball, or Stuart Broad sneak up on a batsman with a cleverly disguised googly from time to time. Am I being greedy?”

5.48am GMT

38th over: Sri Lanka 127-5 (Mendis 62, Roshen 21) Rashid flicks an absolute jaffa past Mendis’s outside edge, which allows Foakes to demonstrate his immaculate glovework as the ball spits towards his right shoulder. He is pure class.

“So,” says Hywel Davies. “In four years’ time, England might be top Test nation and World Cup winners in footie, but it will be Wales preparing to defend the more important world title they won in Japan in 2019! Sigh, who am I kidding, being woken by this cat at 4.50am has left me delirious. Anyone lost a black cat near Highgate cemetery in London recently? Cos we’d really, really like to give it back to its real owners...”

5.44am GMT

37th over: Sri Lanka 125-5 (Mendis 61, Roshen 20) Leach is milked for six runs in his 13th over. Sri Lanka are playing with such comfort against the spinners that it might be time for Ben Stokes to change the tempo.

5.41am GMT

36th over: Sri Lanka 119-5 (Mendis 57, Roshen 18) Roshen edges a fine delivery from Rashid just short of Stokes at slip. For every good ball there is often a bad ball with Rashid, however, and Roshen puts that away for four.

5.37am GMT

35th over: Sri Lanka 114-5 (Mendis 56, Roshen 14) Roshen paddles Leach round the corner for two before being beaten by another excellent delivery. Leach has produced at least one of those in every over today.

5.31am GMT

34th over: Sri Lanka 111-5 (Mendis 55, Roshen 12) Roshen Silva drags a loose ball from Rashid behind the keeper for four. That’s the end of a scruffy first hour from England, who haven’t bowled especially well. Has Joe Root taken this team as far as he can?

5.27am GMT

33rd over: Sri Lanka 105-5 (Mendis 54, Roshen 7) Roshen plops Leach towards the vacant short leg area and inexplicably tries to steal a run. Mendis sends him back and he survives when Foakes’s underarm flick is off target.

5.23am GMT

32nd over: Sri Lanka 104-5 (Mendis 54, Roshen 6) Roshen Silva has had a few problems with Rashid’s googly in this series. I don’t think Rashid has bowled it yet but it won’t be long. It’s a bit flat out there but I suspect England, who have preached patience with the ball throughout the series, budgeted for some Sri Lankan resistance.

5.21am GMT

31st over: Sri Lanka 100-5 (Mendis 52, Roshen 4) Leach beats Roshen with another beautiful delivery. He has bowled pretty well this morning in helpful conditions and continues to wheel away. England would like to see the back of Mendis, who is Sri Lanka’s last realistic hope of an unlikely victory.

5.16am GMT

30th over: Sri Lanka 97-5 (Mendis 50, Roshen 3) Mendis larrups Rashid down the ground for four to reach 49, and an easy single takes him to a charismatic fifty from only 55 balls. Well played.

5.11am GMT

29th over: Sri Lanka 91-5 (Mendis 45, Roshen 2) Leach is now England’s joint leading wickettaker in the series; he and Moeen Ali have 16 apiece. It’s all pretty quiet out there, with Sri Lanka, Mendis in particular, playing well.

5.08am GMT

28th over: Sri Lanka 90-5 (Mendis 45, Roshen 1) Adil Rashid replaces Moeen Ali, who was nowhere near his best. Mendis cuffs consecutive short deliveries for four and then three and then the new batsman Roshen Silva is beaten by his first ball.

5.04am GMT

27th over: Sri Lanka 82-5 (Mendis 37, Roshen 0) That was the last ball of the over.

5.02am GMT

That’s been coming. After beating Sandakan in every over this morning, Leach finds the edge with a good delivery and Ben Stokes does the rest at slip.

4.58am GMT

26th over: Sri Lanka 81-4 (Mendis 37, Sandakan 7) It’s not happening for Moeen at the moment. Kusal Mendis, who is playing really nicely, works a pair of twos round the corner.

“I see your Fall reference and raise you ‘The Dutch are waiting in four languages at least’,” says Ian Forth. “Though I doubt even the Dutch think they’ll win the cricket World Cup.”

4.55am GMT

25th over: Sri Lanka 76-4 (Mendis 32, Sandakan 7) Leach has been much the better bowler this morning, and he again beats Sandakan with a delivery that bounces unpleasantly outside off stump.

“Afternoon Rob,” says Phil Withall. “So, like my eldest daughter, the OBO is 17 years old. Also like my daughter it has provided me with joy and despair, sleepless nights and exhausted days, hopes fulfilled and dreams dashed. I’m still very happy how they have both turned out. (My other daughter is ok too, can’t be accused of having favourites…)”

4.53am GMT

24th over: Sri Lanka 75-4 (Mendis 31, Sandakan 7) Moeen has been unusually loose so far, and Sandakan drives a half-volley confidently for four.

4.48am GMT

23rd over: Sri Lanka 70-4 (Mendis 30, Sandakan 3) Leach again beats Sandakan with another unplayable delivery. That was straight outta Taunton. Sandakan is doing well to survive because there is no consistency to the spin - some are turning miles, others are going straight on.

4.45am GMT

22nd over: Sri Lanka 70-4 (Mendis 30, Sandakan 2) Mendis pulls a loose ball from Moeen for four. He looks like he’s going to play his shots, and why not.

“Morning Rob,” says Simon Richards. “Just putting in an Ashes prediction before Glenn McGrath: 5-0. Can’t see the Aussies winning a Test against this squad next summer...”

4.42am GMT

21st over: Sri Lanka 64-4 (Mendis 25, Sandakan 2) Leach beats Sandakan with a thoroughly unplayable delivery, which dips onto middle and leg and rips past the top of off.

“’Morning, Rob, probably for the last time this year,” says John Starbuck. “Next time it’ll be reversed for the West Indies and we shan’t have to rise at such an idiotic hour, but it’s been worth it, you have to say. Might as well get the seasonal greetings out of the way then; Merry Xmas!”

4.39am GMT

20th over: Sri Lanka 63-4 (Mendis 24, Sandakan 2) A loopy full toss from Moeen is clubbed over midwicket for six by Mendis. That must have slipped out of the hand. Sandakan then survives a big LBW appeal. England decide not to review, and that’s probably the right decision. I think he was outside the line of off stump.

4.36am GMT

19th over: Sri Lanka 56-4 (Mendis 17, Sandakan 2) It’s Jack Leach from the other end. Sandakan is beaten by a vicious delivery which dips onto off stump and then kicks past the edge. This might not take too long as the ball is turning sharply.

4.32am GMT

18th over: Sri Lanka 53-4 (Mendis 15, Sandakan 1) Moeen Ali opens the bowling with an threatening maiden to the nightwatchman Sandakan. The Barmy Army are singing Jerusalem in honour of Peter Marples, one of the travelling supports, who died overnight at the age of 61.

4.24am GMT

Pre-play reading

4.22am GMT

An email “What are the realistic chances of England being World Cup winners in football and cricket four years from now?” asks Ian Forth. “Asking for a friend.”

English footballers in Qatar weather? Good luck with that.

6.26pm GMT

Good morning! Remember when England won 3-0 in Sri Lanka? Don’t worry, you will. The reaction to this series win have been fairly muted – it’s barely been back-page news, never mind front-page – but I suspect history will be very kind to a quietly impressive achievement. If England wrap up a 3-0 win today, it will be their biggest series win in Asia and their biggest whitewash overseas since 1962-63.

You would expect England to finish this match with the minimum of fuss. Sri Lanka, who need 327 for victory, will resume on 53 for four after another difficult evening session for their batsmen.

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Published on November 26, 2018 01:32

Sri Lanka v England: third Test, day three – live!

Over-by-over updates from the day’s play in ColomboJennings catches help England turn game around Australia sink England to claim women’s World T20And you can email Daniel ? or tweet @DanielHarris

9.33am GMT

Back come the players...

9.27am GMT

“Everyone seems to have forgotten about the Test tour to the West Indies next year,” emails Richard Graveling. “When the Lions went over recently they got a stuffing, so it could well be that the likes of Jennings, Burns, Moeen the batsman, Woakes etc will be under decent pressure for places there. I think it’s dangerous to hypothesise about Ashes teams this far out (though fun/tempting). Ignoring that straight away I actually liked the idea of Stokes at three, hints of peak Kallis and a better technique than Bairstow. Could force him to bat properly.”

I’m not ignoring that tour, I just think that the pitches and bowling will suit Jennings. Realistically, he needs one score to keep his spot and I think he’ll get that; the rest look ensconced to me, but I wonder if Woakes’ time has passed. I can’t see them dropping Curran now, and also can’t see how you can get both in. As for Stokes, I agree - I’d happily see him at three, especially if it allows another spinner.

9.16am GMT

So, England lead by 306, probably enough to win. But Sri Lanka made 240 in their first innings despite collapsing in remarkable style, so England aren’t away from them yet. They will be soon, though, if this innings isn’t knocked on the head quickly in the final session. See you in 15.

9.14am GMT

59th over: England 210-7 (Foakes 20, Rashid 21) Milking time. Foakes takes one via weep, then Rashid flicks to long on for two. He then goes back down the ground to get off strike, and Roakes takes us to tea with a swept two.

“I can never see the word ‘vernacular’ without thinking of the late great Ian Dury,” tweets Crawford, “often described as ‘The Count Dracula of spectacular vernacular...’”

9.10am GMT

58th over: England 204-7 (Foakes 17, Rashid 18) One to Rashid, then one to Foake shoved down the ground. England now lead by 300, and unless something happens very soon, they’re going to set a target that we can’t even pretend Sri Lanka might get.

9.08am GMT

57th over: England 202-7 (Foakes 16, Rashid 17) Rashid goes down the ground again to raise England’s 200, Foakes adds a further single to midwicket and then Rashid goes behind square on the leg side. Sri Lanka need to find something because these two are in no trouble whatsoever.

“When it comes to swearing, I always liked ‘Christ on a Bike!’” emails Matthew Wright. “It combines plosive power with a rhyming intensity. A guy I knew was commissioned to write a report for the Church of England on its environmental policies, and suggested that as a title. Sadly Lambeth Palace said no. Spoilsports.”

9.03am GMT

56th over: England 199-7 (Foakes 15, Rashid 15) Back to the Ashes XI, perhaps England bat so deep that Jennings can be picked as a specialist short leg - but were there an early series next summer, he might be struggling to hang on. Anyway, Pushpakumara, who’s barely bowled this innings, returns for his sixth over. one run comes from it, to Rashid down the ground.

9.00am GMT

55th over: England 198-7 (Foakes 15, Rashid 14) First boundary of the mini-session for Foakes - one of only ten this innings - clouted through cover when Sandakan is short and wide. He then gets down the other end with a single to leg, then Rashid gets to the pitch and canes four more through extra. He is enjoying his life, and adds a further single down the ground; that’s 10 off the over.

8.56am GMT

54th over: England 188-7 (Foakes 10, Rashid 9) So what does England’s XI for the Ashes look like? I guess we’re looking at: Burns, Jennings, Bairstow, Root, Stokes, Buttler, Curren, Foakes, Broad, Anderson - and then either Moeen or Rashid. I suppose they could pick both and not bother with Bairstow, or bin Foakes, but that seems unlikely. It’s tricky because Moeen bats properly (sometimes) and bowls well in English conditions, but Rashid gets good players out with unplayable deliveries. A single to each batsman off the over.

8.52am GMT

53rd over: England 186-7 (Foakes 9, Rashid 8) England take three from the first five balls of the over, then Rashid slices one more through where leg slip isn’t. Sri Lanka badly need a wicket.

“Does anyone else agree with me that Moeen Ali is starting to increasingly resemble D H Lawrence?” asks Ian Forth.

8.49am GMT

52nd over: England 183-7 (Foakes 8, Rashid 6) Quick turn for Perera as Foakes follows one around his pads but can’t catch up with it; at the other end, Rashid will be taking note. Two from the over; batting looks fairly easy again.

“My personal favourite minced oath is the Scots: ‘get tae Falkirk’,” emails Hugh Maguire. “Not often delivered with the accompanying offer to pay for a rail fare.”

8.46am GMT

51st over: England 181-7 (Foakes 7, Rashid 5) Sandakan, who’s yanked Sri Lanka back into this, deceives Foakes with the wrongun, but the ball goes a fair way past the bat. Two from the over.

8.43am GMT

50th over: England 179-7 (Foakes 6, Rashid 4) England are tickling along again now, adding three singles. I guess Sri Lanka might feel 300-320 is chaseable - it probably isn’t, but it only takes one big partnership.

“Any Guardian reader unfamiliar with mince oaths clearly wasn’t paying attention to the quiz in yesterday’s Weekend magazine,” emails Smylers.

8.39am GMT

49th over: England 176-7 (Foakes 5, Rashid 2) Rashid gets off the mark to midwicket, then Foakes top-edges a sweep for one more. The ball’s in a the air a while, but it’s going for him at the moment, and after Rashid gets one more, a further sweep gets him two more.

Nothing whatsoever to do with cricket - well, if you can make it relevant to cricket, let’s be having you - but this will brighten up any morning.

25 years ago, on November 23, 1993, @SnoopDogg dropped my favorite Rap album of all time: Doggystyle! Here’s a quick mix of every song on the original release! pic.twitter.com/R56koBuKM0

8.37am GMT

48th over: England 171-7 (Foakes 2, Rashid 0) Another maiden. The pitch isn’t misbehaving, so Sri Lanka won’t think themselves out of this quite yet.

“I have to say I agree with your comments about Bairstow,” emails Martin Wright. “Everyone loves YJB, but I can’t be the only one who found the anger in his ton celebrations took the shine off, rather. And I wonder how Ben Foakes felt when he banged on in post-match interviews about wanting to take over the keeping again…?”

8.34am GMT

47th over: England 171-7 (Foakes 2, Rashid 0) Wicket maiden, and the lead is 267.

“Whilst familiar with the concept and its practice as a lapsed son of the East End (cor blimey), I had no idea about the term ‘minced oath’ until Kim Thonger shone light on the subject (over 31). His invocation of ‘Heavens to Betsy’ immediately recalled from the dark, dank recesses of time the alternative phrase ‘Heavens to Murgatroyd’. This was a catchphrase of the Hanna Barbera cartoon character Snagglepuss (originally of Quickdraw McGraw fame before the Yogi Bear Show), but apparently originated with the actor Bert Rahr from the 1944 film ‘Meet The People’. In the etymological spirit of this morning, it transpires that the surname Murgatroyd may derive from the Norse ‘Moor Gate Royd’ which translates as ‘a clearing in the forest on the road to the moor’. Not many people know that, as a fellow East Ender might say.”

8.30am GMT

Sandakan spins it away from Moeen, who follows it looking to glance away; he edges, and De Silva, moving right, takes a terrific catch in the midriff, now moving left. That was going very quickly indeed, and suddenly Sri Lanka might be chasing something manageable.

8.29am GMT

46th over: England 171-6 (Moeen 22, Foakes 2) Perera nails Foakes on the pad and there’s a shout, but impact was outside the line. Two singles from the over.

“I’ve never been more happily wrong than I was about Buttler making it Test cricket. It’s not about talent, because his rubbery, fast-twitch wrists could bat on an ice rink, but it just felt he was too non-conformist and his shipown had sailed a few summers ago. But of course we’re all fools, because his cricket brain is so staggeringly good he can bat any situation. The potential for him to destroy sides in all conditions is frightening.”

8.25am GMT

45th over: England 169-6 (Moeen 21, Foakes 1) Foakes gets off the mark quickly with a crump to midwicket.

“‘Heavens to Betsy,’” begins Kevin Ryan. “Yes a superb exclamation! I can just imagine The Dude and Walter saying that to each other and to the world in general instead of that other word which was apparently used 260 times in the movie. I shall contact the Coen Brothers right now.”

8.21am GMT

Finally Buttler, coming down, runs past one that’s leg side. Dickwella swipes off the bails in short order ... but we go upstairs ... and this time Sandakan contrived to keep his foot behind the line ...just. That’s an excellent innings from Buttler, who is very rapidly developing from genius into player.

8.18am GMT

44th over: England 168-5 (Buttler 64, Moeen 21) Watching this morning’s wickets again, I notice that when Jonny Bairstow went, there was no message to his castigators. I suppose if that sense of conflict helps his game then get stuck in, but it’s not really true, is it? He seems well-liked, and people want him to make the most of his talent, which he’s not been doing lately, and a ton at three in a dead rubber doesn’t prove anything to anyone. I’d love to see him make a go of it there, but I’m not sure his high backswing and propensity to get himself out when set will come over in England and against better attacks. Moeen sees out a maiden.

8.13am GMT

Morning all and thanks Rob - the players are having a quick nip, and don’t Sri Lanka need one. England are away, and it’s very hard to see how they avoid a whitewash from here. They don’t look like taking a wicket, never mind five, and the current lead already looks like plenty.

8.11am GMT

43rd over: England 168-5 (Buttler 64, Moeen 21) England continue to help themselves to risk-free singles, with four more in that Sandakan over to take the lead to 264. That’s it from me. The great Daniel Harris will be with you for the rest of the day – you can email or tweet him as you wish. Bye!

8.08am GMT

42nd over: England 164-5 (Buttler 62, Moeen 19) Buttler has played with such authority in this innings. He came in when England were 39 for four and in danger of a good old-fashioned farce, yet he has breezed to 62 from 75 balls without a negative thought in the world.

8.05am GMT

41st over: England 160-5 (Buttler 60, Moeen 17) It’s all very low-key at the moment. England have stealthily moved into a strong position, with a lead of 256 on a wearing pitch.

8.01am GMT

40th over: England 157-5 (Buttler 59, Moeen 15) Buttler survives an optimistic LBW appeal after charging Perera. The ball straight sharply from around the wicket but there was too much guesswork for the umpire. It was probably bouncing over the top.

7.59am GMT

39th over: England 155-5 (Buttler 58, Moeen 14) SrI Lanka are starting to look a little forlorn. Sandakan, who dismissed Ben Stokes twice with no-balls in the morning session, returns to the attack and is milked for three singles.

7.52am GMT

38th over: England 152-5 (Buttler 56, Moeen 13) “If the batting side were given an extra DRS review every time the bowling side bowled a no ball, the captain of the bowling side would jolly quickly chivvy his chuckers into controlling their footwork properly?” sniffs Kim Thonger. “Wouldn’t work in village cricket of course, but making the side offending most buy all the post-match beer might.”

7.49am GMT

37th over: England 149-5 (Buttler 54, Moeen 12) Since his recall Buttler is England’s leading runscorer, with 750 at an average of 47 and a strike rate of 68. Those are superb numbers, especially when you consider that most of the pitches have offered a bit to the bowlers.

7.46am GMT

36th over: England 147-5 (Buttler 53, Moeen 11) Moeen edges Perera short of slip and away for four and then Buttler reaches a quietly brilliant half-century from 59 balls. It’s been a smart, assertive and fleet-footed performance.

7.40am GMT

35th over: England 138-5 (Buttler 49, Moeen 6) Moeen has started watchfully. He’s such a dangerous player in a situation like this, because he could easily lace 70 from 90 balls. For now he is dealing in singles and has six from 13.

7.37am GMT

34th over: England 135-5 (Buttler 48, Moeen 4) A good over from Perera, who has been by far Sri Lanka’s best bowler in this series.

7.34am GMT

33rd over: England 132-5 (Buttler 47, Moeen 2) Moeen has had a poor series with the bat, averaging 11, though his bowling makes up for that.

“There is indeed no excuse for a slow bowler to be called for no-balls, but it can be understood if you consider something similar in other sports,” says John Starbuck. “Tennis foot-faults, trying to cheat a few more yards at a football free-kick or throw-in, endless dodgy business in the rugby codes; there’s something enticing about putting one over on the opposition and referee which appeals to certain sensibilities. It makes no difference at all in creating an advantage but still people do it.”

7.30am GMT

32nd over: England 128-5 (Buttler 45, Moeen 0) “Leo Nine surely speaks for the existential dread in us all as he returns wearily from his morning dip and contemplates an afternoon of bridge at the British Club in Bangkok - further compounded by his angst at the quality of the cricket coverage intruding amongst Sky’s normal betting programming (over 19),” says Brian Withington. “To be serious for a moment, the scourge of gambling and its advertising is little short of a national disgrace, but I don’t think we can entirely blame Sky’s owners for that (although on reflection I can feel an argument stirring). There was another piece in the Guardian earlier about the subject but can’t find the link - author suggested that children should be taught about the perniciousness of bookies’ odds making in school. A worthy aspiration, but I’m not sure it would be any more effective than pointing out the perils of drink, drugs, fags and unprotected sex. If nothing else, I suggest we might at least ban the adverts that purport to tell us to stop gambling ‘when the fun stops’ - where hypocrisy meets tokenism and still turns a profit.”

As with most of modern society’s soul-selling ills, it feels like it’s too late to do much about it.

7.28am GMT

Stokes has gone this time. He danced down the track to Perera but didn’t get to the pitch and dragged the ball to long on, where Pushpakumara took a good low catch. Stokes was caught off Sandakan no-balls twice in the morning session; this time Perera kept his foot behind the line.

7.23am GMT

31st over: England 122-4 (Stokes 37, Buttler 45) Stokes reverse-sweeps Dhananjaya solidly for a couple. England’s lead is a very handy 218 and they are surely going to win this game.

“The discussion of bugger led me down memory lane,” says Kim Thonger. “I used to work in New York and once exclaimed ‘oh bugger’ in rather a large meeting. The entire throng gazed upon me with a collective firmly raised eyebrow. I felt obliged to find an alternative thereafter. I settled on ‘heavens to Betsy’, acceptable in all corners of Manhattan, but not much use on a cricket pitch, far too flimsy. Apparently it’s a ‘minced oath’, a sub-group of euphemisms used to avoid swearing when expressing surprise or annoyance. I dare say the Aussies have trained themselves to use it now they are reformed genteel characters.”

7.20am GMT

30th over: England 117-4 (Stokes 33, Buttler 44) Buttler sweeps Perera for a couple, scampering back for a bonus second run. There is more than one way to counter-attack, and England have put pressure on Sri Lanka with their running as much as their strokeplay. Buttler is such an impressive, resourceful cricketer, who tailors every innings to the conditions and match situation. A top-edged sweep lands safely and brings him two more runs later in the over.

“Hi Rob,” says Thomas Hinton. “Always good to start the day with a bit of etymology to make up for an England wobble. Just to add to Danny Edmunds’ account (over 24), ‘Bulgarian’ was less to do with belonging to the Orthodox Church and more specifically about certain dualist heresies that were seen as related to Bogomilism, which originated in the Bulgarian Empire. Specifically, in Western Europe, the southern French folk who took up Catharism were sometimes called Bogomils or Bulgars. That might give us a plausible start date for the term ‘bugger’, since Catharism appears in France in the late 12th/early 13th century. Give it a few years to transfer in English and you might be looking at mid-13th century, maybe? Also, I’m not sure why the term would need to come into English through Dutch, even if this is what the OED claims. Large numbers of the clergy in England were English-French bilinguals until the late 14th century, as were up to a fifth of the general population, so it makes more sense that (like so many other words) it would have transferred straight across from the French ‘bougre’.”

7.15am GMT

29th over: England 111-4 (Stokes 32, Buttler 39) Keaton Jennings fell to the first ball of the morning session and now Jos Buttler has been dropped off the first ball after lunch, a very sharp legside chance to Dickwella off the bowling off Dhananjaya. It would have been a brilliant catch.

“Morning Rob,” says Ben Heywood. “It’s shedding it down here in Montenegro. Danny Edmunds may have uncovered the origin of the phrase ‘bugger all’, but for me its finest usage - after a fashion - will always be from the famous Hungarian film director of the 30s, Michael Curtiz. His English was so famously strangled that he once demanded that more ‘empty horses’ were brought onto set, and was fond of declaring that ‘next time I send a fool to get something, I send myself’.
“Well, one day, while filming Charge of the Light Brigade, he lost his rag with Errol Flynn and David Niven, who were both winding him up about his frequent slips of the tongue. Famously, he raged: ‘You buggering people! You think I know bugger nothing! Well, let me tell you - I know bugger all!’.

6.34am GMT

28th over: England 110-4 (Stokes 32, Buttler 38) That’s lunch. It can sometimes be difficult to stay awake on these overnight shifts but not when the cricket is as exciting as that. England lost four early wickets before Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler counter-attacked to add 71 in 14 overs. But they both had escapes. Buttler was given out LBW, only for the decision to be overturned on review, and Stokes was twice caught off no-balls from the wrist spinner Sandakan. The upshot is that England lead by 206 runs and are still on course for their biggest ever victory in a Test series in Asia.

6.31am GMT

This is ridiculous. Sandakan produced a beauty to get Stokes caught at slip, but for the second time replays showed he had overstepped. That is desperate stuff.

6.28am GMT

27th over: England 106-4 (Stokes 31, Buttler 36) Stokes’ batting form hasn’t been great since his return - his last century was against West Indies in 2017 - so these are useful runs. His place will never be under threat, but a big score would give him some peace of mind.

6.23am GMT

26th over: England 103-4 (Stokes 29, Buttler 35) Stokes turns Sandakan wide of leg slip for four to bring up the hundred. England have really gone after Sandakan, whose four overs have cost 32. That’s not good in a lowish-scoring game like this.

“Hi Rob,” says Phil White. “Read a brilliant interview with Robin Smith yesterday in October’s Cricketer mag, and was delighted to learn that you’re ghosting his autobiography. Had no idea he’d has such problems post-retirement, great to read that he’s got his life back on track. Any idea when it will be out?”

6.19am GMT

25th over: England 96-4 (Stokes 24, Buttler 33) Buttler gets a leading edge that loops over Dhananjaya’s head for two. It hasn’t always been convincing, but this counter-attack has pushed England’s lead to a healthy 192.

“What is all this talk of apps and smartphones?” says Ian Copestake. “It’s 1972 after all.”

6.15am GMT

24th over: England 92-4 (Stokes 23, Buttler 30) Stokes slaps Sandakan straight to cover, only for replays to show it was a no-ball. Dear me, that’s such shoddy cricket. Spinners bowling no-balls is right up there on the list of modern society’s ills.

“Morning Rob,” says Danny Edmunds. “ “Bugger” is derived from Middle Dutch and in turn derived from the old French word for “heretic” which was “bougre”. That in turn comes from Medieval Latin “Bulgarus” (“bulgarian”) in particular meaning an individual belonging to the Orthodox rather than the Latin church (as you know, the Ortodox and Latin churches split in 1054). By the 16th century “bugger” was being used in English to mean “sodomite”, due to the association of sodomy with heresy. “Bugger all” itself seems to come in to common use in the early 20th century, one source giving the first recorded use as 1945, another suggesting it is one of the panoply of swear words that comes out of the First World War.”

6.08am GMT

23rd over: England 87-4 (Stokes 21, Buttler 27) I thought Buttler was gone, that it would be umpire’s call at worst for Sri Lanka. But there is a lot more bounce in this pitch and that saved him.

6.07am GMT

Jos Buttler is reprieved on review! He was given out LBW to a fine delivery from the new bowler Dhananjaya de Silva, but he went upstairs and replays showed it was bouncing over the top of middle stump.

6.03am GMT

6.02am GMT

22nd over: England 85-4 (Stokes 20, Buttler 27) Majestic stuff from Buttler, who walks down the track to whack consecutive deliveries from Sandakan into the leg side for four. He was so quick on his feet that he turned both balls into low full tosses. This has been a terrific, cold-eyed counter-attack from Buttler, who has 27 from 24 balls.

5.58am GMT

21st over: England 76-4 (Stokes 19, Buttler 19) Buttler has been very positive, using his feet at every opportunity to the spinners. This is great fun to watch, with both teams on the attack. This part have added 37 in seven overs.

“At the risk of also being shamed for my first world privilege, I feel compelled to share some of Richard Smyth’s pain (over 12) at the way the App so frustratingly hides the contact details of its leading lights,” says Brian Withington. “Judging by your uncharacteristically tart reply, I can only assume that Richard must be your brother, however heavy he might be?”

5.53am GMT

20th over: England 71-4 (Stokes 17, Buttler 16) The wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan replaces Pushpakumara and starts with an eventful over. Stokes drags a sweep fine for four, is beaten by a jaffa and then reverse sweeps just over the man at slip. Buttler makes it 12 from the over with an emphatic drive past mid-off for four.

“Just putting the finishing touches to a piece of writing set in 2035,” says Martin Wright. “Which leads me (by way of typical writer’s procrastination) to wonder if any of the current squad will still be playing for England then? Or if not, any current young blades on the county circuit?”

5.50am GMT

19th over: England 59-4 (Stokes 13, Buttler 9) Stokes belts Perera for his first boundary, and I’m happy to report that we have a picture once more.

“Hello from Bangkok, where I’m back from my morning swim and off, shortly, for an afternoon”s bridge at the British Club...” says Leo Nine. I was in Galle for the first Test - great fun, of course, though I did wish for a closer match, which we might well now get in Colombo. I watched a little of this match on Sky at the pub yesterday evening and was very disappointed in what can only be described as Sky’s between-ads coverage. I had naturally wanted to see all the wickets that had fallen but they only showed a nano-montage of Rashid’s five-fer before returning to their mission of enticing us all to gamble more (no interest) using our smartphones (don’t have one). It occurred to me that this pathetically appalling presentation might be partly the reason why fewer and fewer people are following - or being drawn into - the game. Any comments from other readers?”

5.44am GMT

18th over: England 52-4 (Stokes 7, Buttler 8) “Morning, Rob,” says John Starbuck. “No idea about ‘bugger all’ though ‘sod all’ is a similar phrase, but what about short leg? It’s become a really effective position in this series, so are there any stats about catches/run-outs thence? How good do you have to be to become a specialist at any position in the field?”

I’m sure there are unofficial stats but nothing that has troubled our friend Statsguru. I suspect you’d have to be inhumanly good to be a specialist fielder in any position.

5.40am GMT

17th over: England 47-4 (Stokes 6, Buttler 5) We are having a few technical problems, in solidarity with the England batsmen.

5.36am GMT

16th over: England 44-4 (Stokes 5, Buttler 3) England, who lead by 140, will want to set Sri Lanka a target of at least 250. The pitch is doing a bit for the spinners but it’s far from unplayable.

5.29am GMT

15th over: England 42-4 (Stokes 4, Buttler 2) That’s drinks. Sri Lanka would have been happy with two wickets in the first hour; instead they took four, including the big one of Joe Root, and are back in the match. England lead by 138 runs.

5.26am GMT

14th over: England 39-4 (Stokes 3, Buttler 0) It was another soft dismissal. Root tried to turn to leg and got a leading edge back towards the bowler, who swooped to his left to take an excellent low catch.

“Love to wake up and have breakfast with OBO open,” says Jim Todd. “Tanzania is half way between UK and Sri Lanka, so 7:30 is an ideal start time. Interested in your use of the term ‘bugger all’. Where does the term come from, and why does it denote little or no activity (as in Chelsea’s corner yesterday)?”

5.25am GMT

England seem determined to ensure, one way or another, that we all get Tuesday off. Root has gone, caught off his bowling by Pushpakumara. I missed the dismissal due to a frozen screen but I’m sure we’ll see a replay in a second.

5.20am GMT

13th over: England 36-3 (Root 5, Stokes 1) The new batsman is Ben Stokes, who has had problems with Perera in this series. Another quick wicket would put Sri Lanka right back in this game.

“On the East cost of the USA, the start time is OK for some listening before bed,” says Mark Zip. “GuerillaCricket.com, of course, because it’s not geoblocked. Of course, it does mean that one sleeps through the last session of the day. Wish I’d heard yesterday’s last session.”

5.17am GMT

Jonny Bairstow falls to a brilliant catch at short leg by the substitute Kaushal Silva. He flicked Perera firmly off the pads, and Silva somehow took a stunning reaction catch by his left shoulder. Perera has three wickets and England are in a bit of bother.

5.14am GMT

12th over: England 33-2 (Bairstow 14, Root 5) Bairstow gets the first boundary of the day with a confident clip through midwicket off the new bowler Pushpakumara. After a slow start to the innings, England are now greedily gobbling up runs. It helps that Bairstow and Root run so well together. They lead by 129.

“Morning, Rob!” says Richard Smyth. “Some of us are awake (with atrociously wakeful babies) and following the OBO - but there’s nowhere I can see on the app that tells me how to email you. I had to access via my browser, like a peasant.”

5.09am GMT

11th over: England 25-2 (Bairstow 8, Root 3) That’s a tame end to a promising debut series from Burns, who made 155 runs at 25.83. Joe Root, the new batsman, scampers singles off each of his first three deliveries. He’ll change the tempo of the innings.

“Our boiler packed up yesterday,” says Sam Tudor, “so I volunteered to get up at 4.30am today to turn on the emergency fan heater. My wife thinks this time was the result of a complex calculation, taking into account the thermal mass of our house, the rating of the heater and her rising time of 8.30am. Still missed the wicket though.”

5.04am GMT

Rory Burns has gone! He didn’t even bother to discuss a review with Jonny Bairstow. It was tossed up by Perera, and Burns simply missed a flick across the line. I know I said this about Jennings but Burns really was plumb.

5.02am GMT

10th over: England 20-1 (Burns 7, Bairstow 6) Bairstow plays a couple of cracking drives without piercing the field. The ball is doing the square root of bugger all for Lakmal, who will surely take himself out of the attack sooner rather than later.

“Just worried you were lonely,” says Jesse Linklater. “I’m here in snowy Montreal, following the OBO, trying not to drift off to sleep.”

4.56am GMT

9th over: England 16-1 (Burns 6, Bairstow 5) An unplayable delivery from Perera turns the wrong way and beats Bairstow outside off stump. He looks a real threat today. Bairstow has a flustered sweep at the next ball, misses and is hit on the pad. Chris Gaffaney rejects Sri Lanka’s LBW appeal and they don’t discuss a review. It looked pretty close, though it may have done too much.

“Jennings was very good at getting his body in the way of the ball yesterday,” says Romeo. “He’s continued today.”

4.52am GMT

8th over: England 12-1 (Burns 3, Bairstow 5) A maiden fae Lakmal to Bairstow.

“There seems to be much surprise that Keaton Jennings is such a good fielder, yet it is in his genes,” says Kevin Thornton. “His father Ray, the Transvaal wicket-keeper of the apartheid era, was known as Jet Jennings because he was so quick behind the stumps he seemed rocket-propelled. Ray was a more than useful lower-order batter who was also not overly fond of the quick bowlers.”

4.46am GMT

7th over: England 12-1 (Burns 3, Bairstow 5) Perera rips one past Bairstow and down the leg side for three byes. Sri Lanka know they need early wickets and have men round the bat. England might need to sit in for the first hour, though that doesn’t come naturally to Bairstow. The lead is 108.

4.42am GMT

6th over: England 7-1 (Burns 2, Bairstow 4) The captain Suranga Lakmal starts at the other end to Bairstow, who gets a thick edge all along the ground for three. Burns defends the rest of the over.

Anyone out there?

4.36am GMT

5th over: England 4-1 (Burns 2, Bairstow 1) That Jennings LBW was nowhere near as plumb as I thought; replays showed it was just hitting the outside of leg stump. Jennings ends a mixed series with 233 runs at an average of 47, 146 of which came in the second innings at Galle.

4.31am GMT

Keaton Jennings falls to the first ball of the day! He played defensively outside the line at a good delivery from Perera which skidded on and kept low before hitting him on the pad. That looked plumb.

4.30am GMT

Rory Burns and Keaton Jennings stroll out of the tunnel into the hot, hot heat of Colombo. Dilruwan Perera is going to open the bowling.

3.54am GMT

Some pre-play reading

3.30am GMT

Women’s World T20 England were, alas, well beaten by Australia in the final in Antigua. They never really recovered from a terrible 11-ball spell at the start of their innings in which Amy Jones was briliantly run out and Nat Sciver was trapped LBW by Ellyse Perry. Australia were just too good.

6.53pm GMT

Morning. Those of us who predicted a 3-0 whitewash before this series would be feeling pretty smug if we had only named the correct winning team. England were supposed to go the way of Australia and South Africa, who were hammered on turning pitches in Sri Lanka. Instead they are closing in on their biggest ever victory in the subcontinent. Their best is the famous 3-1 win in India in 1976-77, but a farce-free batting performance today should ensure the aforementioned whitewash.

England will resume on three for none in their second innings, a lead of 99, after a dramatic final session in which the brilliance of Ben Stokes, Adil Rashid and Keaton Jennings induced a spectacular collapse - the kind of collapse, in fact, that we expected from England in these conditions. It’s nice to be so emphatically wrong.

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Published on November 25, 2018 01:33