Rob Smyth's Blog, page 22
October 16, 2024
Pakistan v England: second men’s cricket Test, day two – as it happened
Ben Duckett’s century helped England make a strong start before Sajid Khan’s spin triggered a batting collapse
91st over: Pakistan 259-5 (Rizwan 37, Salman 5) Carse has one slip, a gully and a short mid-on in catching positions for Salman, who gets into his work with a few watertight defensive strokes.
As mentioned previously Salman is a very good No7. Of those with at least 500 Test runs in that position, his average of 49 is the tenth highest. It’s a good list. Brian McMillan was one cussed bugger, a constant thorn in England’s side in the mid-1990s.
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Pakistan v England: second men’s cricket Test, day two – live
91st over: Pakistan 259-5 (Rizwan 37, Salman 5) Carse has one slip, a gully and a short mid-on in catching positions for Salman, who gets into his work with a few watertight defensive strokes.
As mentioned previously Salman is a very good No7. Of those with at least 500 Test runs in that position, his average of 49 is the tenth highest. It’s a good list. Brian McMillan was one cussed bugger, a constant thorn in England’s side in the mid-1990s.
Continue reading...October 15, 2024
Japan 1-1 Australia: 2026 World Cup qualifier – as it happened
Admirable defensive performance earns the Socceroos a vital point in a match of two own goals against the Samurai Blue
The story so far
A reminder that the top two qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup; the teams in third and fourth go forward to yet another round of qualification, from which they may never escape.
Continue reading...Pakistan v England: second men’s cricket Test, day one – as it happened
Kamran Ghulam hit a century on Test debut as the hosts closed the opening day in Multan on 259 for five
1st over: Pakistan 1-0 (Shafique 1, Saim 0) With Woakes and Atkinson rested, Matthew Potts takes the first over for the first time in his Test career. He starts with two slips and a leg slip for Shafique, although Ben Stokes takes out the second slip after three balls.
Potts starts well, making the batters play at all six deliveries. That’s one of his great strengths: tight line, good-to-full length, always at the batter.
Continue reading...Pakistan v England: second men’s cricket Test, day one – live
1st over: Pakistan 1-0 (Shafique 1, Saim 0) With Woakes and Atkinson rested, Matthew Potts takes the first over for the first time in his Test career. He starts with two slips and a leg slip for Shafique, although Ben Stokes takes out the second slip after three balls.
Potts starts well, making the batters play at all six deliveries. That’s one of his great strengths: tight line, good-to-full length, always at the batter.
Continue reading...October 13, 2024
Finland 1-3 England: Nations League – as it happened
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s majestic free-kick was the highlight of a comfortable win for England in Helsinki
Finland manager Markku Kanerva speaks to ITV
We want to give our fans a spectacular match. We know how tough it’s going to be but we’re ready to make a miracle. We have to defend well for 90+ minutes, be very solid and compact, and take care of the ball when we have it.
Continue reading...October 11, 2024
England complete famous innings win over Pakistan on day five of first Test – as it happened
Jack Leach cleaned up on the final morning in Multan to seal an historic victory for England
42nd over: Pakistan 169-6 (Salman 55, Jamal 30) Salman touches Atkinson to fine leg to reach a really good half-century. Chuck in his first-innings hundred and he has scored 156 runs without being dismissed.
The TV commentators are discussing Pakistan’s squad for the second Test. I can’t see wholesale changes – that’s not how Jason Gillespie works – but there’s a case for asking Babar Azam whether he needs a break to refresh mentally. Graham Gooch did that in 1989 and within a year he was biffing 333.
Continue reading...October 10, 2024
Pakistan v England: Brook hits 317 before hosts collapse in first Test – as it happened
Harry Brook and Joe Root put on 454 together before England’s seamers ran through Pakistan’s top order
106th over: England 514-3 (Root 192, Brook 146) The home broadcaster show a short video of the commentator Rameez Raja chatting to Babar before the start of the play. “I promise,” he says, “it wasn’t a fielding session…”
England continue to tick along, with the deficit down to 43. Brook is taking time to get his eye in again; in terms of tempo adjustment this has been one of his better innings. It would be so easy, with his talent and record in Pakistan, to see a pitch like this and think you can hit every ball for four. He has been greedy rather than indulgent, an excellent sign after that slightly immature innings against Sri Lanka at the Oval.
Continue reading...Pakistan v England: tourists surge past 700 on day four of first men’s cricket Test – live
106th over: England 514-3 (Root 192, Brook 146) The home broadcaster show a short video of the commentator Rameez Raja chatting to Babar before the start of the play. “I promise,” he says, “it wasn’t a fielding session…”
England continue to tick along, with the deficit down to 43. Brook is taking time to get his eye in again; in terms of tempo adjustment this has been one of his better innings. It would be so easy, with his talent and record in Pakistan, to see a pitch like this and think you can hit every ball for four. He has been greedy rather than indulgent, an excellent sign after that slightly immature innings against Sri Lanka at the Oval.
Continue reading...October 8, 2024
England finish day two of first Test on 96-1 after Pakistan post score of 556 – as it happened
Salman Agha became Pakistan’s third centurion, but responding to a monster total, Zak Crawley and Joe Root batted with typical aggression and deftness
89th over: Pakistan 334-4 (Saud 40, Naseem 1) While Atkinson went round the wicket to the left-hand Saud, Woakes is bowling over the wicket with two slips and two men on the drive – one at short extra, one at short mid-off.
When he takes a single off the first ball, the flirtation of the outside edge resumes. Naseem is beaten by a jaffa and nods respectfully down the pitch. Woakes has bowled really well with the second new ball: 4-2-5-1 are his figures.
Continue reading...Rob Smyth's Blog
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