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6th over: Pakistan 23-0 (Shafique 15, Rizwan 8) Leach starts the over by beating Rizwan in the air. The Pakistan batter charges down the pitch but doesn’t get to it so has to launch into a heaved drive. He catches enough of it to get three over Jimmy Anderson’s head.
Shafique then shows how to do it. He comes down to Leach as well but he’s fully in control of a lofted on drive that is devoid of any flourishing bat but stacked full of timing. What a cricket shot that is. Maybe the best of the match and it sails effortlessly for a might six.
Shafique closes out the over with a clip to the midwicket fence. Loads of timing in that as well. Great batting.
5th over: Pakistan 10-0 (Shafique 5, Rizwan 5) Robinson keeps plugging away around the top of off. It won’t be easy for the seamers who will have to be patient. Rizwan gets three from the over with a nudge off his hips worth two and then a single past point. Robinson digs one in to Shafique and manages to get it over his head, but only after the batter stoops low to duck underneath it.
Kevin Tong, you beauty!
“Hey Daniel. Greetings from Singapore!! Just to let you know, I fell in love with cricket BECAUSE of The Guardian’s OBO, so please keep up the great work! I’m not sure whether it’s available in every country, but where I am the Pakistan Cricket Board is streaming the entire Test match on its Youtube channel with the official commentary. This might help those looking for the overseas TMS link! Cheers!!
Yours sincerely,
Kevin
P.s. Here’s today’s link if it helps anybody”
You’re a good ‘un Kev. Thanks for helping out.
4th over: Pakistan 7-0 (Shafique 5, Rizwan 2) Two slips, a forward short leg and a short extra cover for Leach who is in to his work, toiling away around the off stump. He’ll be asked to bowl a lot of overs here. This is a tidy one. Worth two runs from Shafique’s blade as he inside-edges a couple towards mid-on. Robinson’s dive and miss means they get back for the second.
How’s this for a cracking stat (which I’m stealing from Cricinfo’s live feed).
In the last 75 years, only two England spinners have opened the bowling in both innings of a men’s Test, other than Jack Leach in this game.
Gareth Batty v Bangladesh, Chattogram 2016
Tony Greig v West Indies, Port of Spain 1974.
3rd over: Pakistan 5-0 (Shafique 3, Rizwan 2) It’s a sure sign that this pitch is dead and dying as Robinson has a three catchers in front of the wickets – one straight on the off side, one in the covers and another at short midwicket – to go along with a short leg and just one slip. He’s bowling wicket to wicket which is the right tactic as one might keep low. None do and Shafique gets off strike with a clip to deep square while Rizwan can’t find a gap pushing forward towards the off side.
2nd over: Pakistan 4-0 (Shafique 2, Rizwan 2) It’s Jack Leach with the new ball and that is a great start from my fellow baldy. His third ball is a ripper that takes the outside edge of Shafique and balloons over slip, just out of Joe Root’s reach. Rizwan, a surprise opener himself, tries to sweep but misses with a hefty swipe of the blade. He is off the mark after skipping down the pitch and swatting it through midwicket for a couple.
1st over: Pakistan 1-0 (Shafique 1, Rizwan 0) Ollie Robinson gets us underway for this fourth and final innings. He’s on the money, except for one ball that allows Abdullah Shafique to clip a single out towards long leg. Mohammad Rizwan is the other opener and he’s content with bunting the ball towards the covers with soft hands.
England all out for 275, Pakistan require 355 to winThat turned out to be a pretty good morning for Pakistan. When they started the day, Brook and Stokes were in a belligerent mood and a target north of 400 was on the cards. Brook got his ton and Stokes equalled Brendon McCullum’s record for most sixes in Test cricket but then Abrar dismissed the skipper and some sharp fielding helped bundle out the rest.
Abrar ends his debut match with figures if 11-234. A quite remarkable introduction to what is supposed to be the toughest format in the game.
England have plenty of runs to play with and will back themselves of wrapping the series up (they might even do it today).
But with a seam heavy attack perhaps Pakistan have a shot. All 20 English wickets fell to spin and that might give the home side some hope that the tourists are a little imbalanced.
I’m off to grab my second cuppa of the morning. Speak in a few.
WICKET! Anderson lbw Zahid 4 (England 275 all-out)Oh Jimmy! Never change. First ball reverse sweep for four. Second ball poked back to the bowler. Third ball he misses the conventional sweep and is struck dead in front and has to trudge off. He reviews, but only because there’s one in the bank.
England are all out – with all 10 20 wickets falling to spin – and have a lead of 354.
Vish knows
WICKET! Brook c Shakeel b Zahid 108 (England 271-9)And that is that. Brook, sensing that he might soon run out of partners, launches into a leg side hack but gets underneath it and skies it out towards Shakeel in the deep. It’s a tricky catch made simple and Brook has to trudge off. What a knock. What a player. Whisper it quietly but this kid is special. Actually, tell your friends and family members. Bombard them round the Christmas table. Be annoying over the holidays with the amount of love you give Harry Brook. He deserves it.
64th over: England 271-8 (Brook 108, Leach 0) Abrar is a lovely bowler, isn’t he? There’s an appeal for an edge but it seems to have missed everything. Leach looks bemused and a little sheepish that he didn’t pick the googly. Don’t worry, Jack. Better batters than you have had the same struggles against this youngster. Brook takes a single. He seems content for the time being to keep it simple. Will he let loose soon?
You just had to show off with your sun and blue skies, didn’t you Phil?
63rd over: England 270-8 (Brook 107, Leach 0) A top first over from Mahmood who kicks off with a wicket maiden. Wood looked uncomfortable throughout that set. Swishing and missing once, prodding later on. It was a poke that did it, along with a neat grab by the Pakistan captain in the slips. Jack Leach comes to the crease. Will be bring out the switch-hit again? Oh please oh please oh please…
WICKET! Wood c Babar b Mahmood 6 (England 270-8)Smart cricket from Pakistan and their skipper who makes the bowling change and gets the instant reward. Zahid Mahmood comes on and his leg spin immediately troubles Wood. He’s on the back foot to the fifth ball and pokes at it with trepidation. A thickish edge just about carries to Babar who holds on well.
62nd over: England 270-7 (Brook 107, Wood 6) Bang! Wood gets in on the fun by climbing into Abrar’s flighted delivery and meeting it with a crunchy slog sweep. It’s harrumphed in front of square and clears the rope after bouncing once. A single apiece means it’s six from the over and the lead is now 349.
“Morning Daniel,”
Good morning Brian Withington. Keeping warm I hope.
”Already well worth the 4:45am awakening – never a dull moment with this England side at the moment. Abrar great to watch too. And what a catch to dismiss Ben Stokes.”
Bang on. They’re a cracking team to watch whatever your loyalties.
61st over: England 264-7 (Brook 106, Wood 1) Brook flicks Nawaz for a couple and then trades a couple of singles for one from Wood. A new rhythm has settled. Brook rebuilding before an offensive to come.
“400 total for a declaration? Will we be 300 all out?”
I think they’ll just keep batting and see where they land up AM (or Super Barnsley, according to your email address).
“Was looking at Cooky’s career stats, and he hung up his England spurs at 33. Too soon? Surely so. The touring probably did it for him.”
Funny, now that England have been Bazzballing we haven’t heard much of Cook. But I’m with you. He could probably still do a job at this level.
60th over: England 259-7 (Brook 102, Wood 0) A wicket maiden for Abrar. What a game he’s having. Robinson’s wicket is his 11th of the match. Wood is more watchful than Robinson but is still beaten on the outside edge with a rip snorter that spits off the turf. If Wood can keep Brook company that lead of 341 yet.
Thanks for joining us Pete!
Hi @danielgallan I’m following from a dark, wet and windy Saanich on the paradise that is Vancouver Island. Sadly, I’m likely to doze off before the lunch interval as only just flown in from the UK.
— Pete Riley (@fitter55) December 11, 2022 WICKET! Robinson b Abrar 3 (England 259-7)Better batters than Ollie Robinson have already been bowled by Abrar Ahmed’s googly. But he’ll be annoyed by the optics of this dismissal. He comes down the pitch and unfurls a pretty ugly swipe. The head is nowhere, the hands are in a different postcode to the ball. The plink of leather on wood behind him brings about his early demise.
59th over: England 259-6 (Brook 102, Robinson 3) That Stokes wicket brings Ollie Robinson to the crease. England lead by 338 and will be aiming for 400 I’d think before contemplating a declaration. Still plenty of time in the game so the more the merrier, as far as England are concerned. The new batter is off the mark with a couple off his hips and then keeps the strike with a single into the covers.
That is a weird feeling, Brendan. But you might be right.
@danielgallan Morning Daniel. I awoke today with the weird realisation that in top men’s sport it is now the English cricket team that are most likely to succeed when they play. There may well be 2 top jobs vacated in the near future. Could we have Bazball rugby and football.
— Brendan Large (@brendanlarge) December 11, 2022 WICKET! Stokes c Ali b Nawaz 41 (England 256-6)That is some catch out in the deep. Stokes goes across his crease and looks to heave it towards deep square. He catches it well but not as well as a diving Ali who plucks out a screamer, diving to his left. Fantastic cricket. Stokes won’t mind too much. That’s another breezy cameo from the skipper.
58th over: England 265-5 (Brook 102, Stokes 41) Stokes clatters a mighty maximum down the ground with a delightful swing of his blade, meeting Abrar’s full ball just after it pitches. There’s a drop at slip. Was it dropped? Yes, I think so. Was a tough chance if it was but Babar couldn’t get his fingers under the ball and it squirts away for three. England are climbing through the gears.
57th over: England 245-5 (Brooke 101, Stokes 31) Mohammad Nawaz comes into the attack but he can’t stop to bleeding. Stokes takes a single off the first ball and Brook pelts the final delivery of the over for four in front of square off the back foot. That’s three figures for the 23-year-old as England’s lead climbs to 324.
Hundred for Harry BrookAnd what a way to bring it up. He rocks back and thwacks Mohammad Nawaz’s short ball for four. He doesn’t quite get hold of it but he he gets enough to see it trickle to the boundary. What a talent. 153 & 87 in the first Test. Now he’s got a second Test ton. Brilliant.
“Morning from a freezing Kent where I’m trying to get a restless baby to sleep – obviously a very small sample size but I can’t remember the last time an English batsman looked such a good fit for test cricket as Harry Brook. Just seems to have everything. Hopefully not a flash in the pan!”
Hi William Vignoles. Andy Zaltzman once told me that he’d timed the birth of his two children to coincide with away Ashes series, just so he wouldn’t mind staying up at ungodly hours with them. At least you’ve got the cricket to keep your mind sharp.
“Also it’s wonderful for test cricket to be back on Pakistan, making being up in the small hours somewhat bearable. Cheers for being there with us!”
My pleasure! And yes, it’s wonderful having Pakistan back and hosting as they should.
56th over: England 240-5 (Brook 97, Stokes 30) Brook moves into the 90s with a delicious slog sweep and then progresses to 97 by pouncing on an Abrar drag down and launching it out to cow corner for four more. Quality batting.
Is this the best value for money ticket anywhere in the world?
55th over: England 232-5 (Brook 89, Stokes 30) Pakistan’s bowlers have lost their way a touch. Ali’s first ball of the over is pushed down the leg side and Brook just needs to get a tickle on it to send it skipping towards the fine leg fence. Ali corrects his line and keeps Brook honest for the rest of the set but can’t prevent him from retaining the strike with a nudge through the covers.
54th over: England 227-5 (Brook 84, Stokes 30) That’s the shot of the morning as Brook skips down the track, meets Abrar’s flighted ball and times his lifted drive to perfection down the ground, adding four more to his total. He gets another four after punishing a rare drag down with a biffed pull before keeping the strike with a single.
53rd over: England 218-5 (Brook 76, Stokes 30) Ali continues over the wicket. Stokes is looking to get a move on. Ge gets three down to deep square leg with a conventional flick and bludgeons four in front of square with a meat mow. It’s not coming on to the bat but Stokes won’t mind as he tries to heave it with brute strenght. Brooks takes a dabbed single through the off side.
52nd over: England 209-5 (Brook 75, Stokes 23) Just a single off the over with Stokes nurdling one past short leg. It was in the air but would have been some take. Brooke survives a review but the replays show he was always safe.
Not out. It’s a flat line all the way through Ultra Edge. Abrar pushes it down leg and Brook looks to play the sweep fine. There was a noise, at least one the Pakistan players heard. But no dice.
Pakistan review. Abrar and Rizwan behind the stumps are convinced Brook has got something on this sweep…
51st over: England 208-5 (Brook 74, Stokes 22) There’s a surprise. It’s not spin from both ends with Mohammad Ali bowling the second over of the morning with some seam. Stokes immediately trots down the pitch but checks his drive straight to the man at short extra cover. He takes a couple with a flourishing flick off his hips wide of fine leg. Ali adjusts he line and gets it to keep low as the ball swooshes past Stoke’s off stump. Might be worth going round the wicket if that sort of thing continues to bring in lbw. Stokes takes a single off the final ball by double stepping and blocking towards mid-off but he also gets told off by umpire Marais Erasmus for running down the middle of the wicket.
50th over: England 202-5 (Brook 74, Stokes 19) Abrar is quicker and flatter to start. He’s pushing Stokes on the back foot until a flighted ball is met with a meaty reverse sweep that spins away for a couple towards the off side. A nudged cut gets the England skipper a single before Brook bunts his first delivery of the day for no run.
Right, here we go… Abrar has the ball in his hand. Stokes to face up first.
The glasses are back! I repeat. The GLASSES ARE BACK!
Stuart Broad looks like he’s auditioning for the role of Paul Dano’s stunt double in There Will Be Blood.
“Hi. I’m following from Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand, where it’s warm but raining on and off. Is there a link for TMS for overseas listeners this time?”
Hi Susanna. Great to hear from you. Unfortunately I’m at a loss. I’ll do my best to find out. If there are any readers out there who can help please do.
Oh, and if you’d like to get in touch, do drop me a mail or send a Tweet my way.
And while we’re brewing that coffee and making some toast, why not sink your teeth into Ali Martin’s report from Day 2:
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Good morning all. Or good afternoon if you’re joining from somewhere that isn’t cold, dark and frosty England. It’s great to be with you as I wipe the sleep from my eyes on the morning after the night before.
Is it wrong to mention the football? Let’s get it out of the way shall we? There, I mentioned it. Enough of that (I’ll do my best not to do it again).
At least there’s one sport where the Three Lions are roaring proudly. England begin the third day of this second Test in Pakistan in firm control. 281 runs ahead and in the driver’s seat as they hurtle towards a series claiming victory.
Harry Brook is not out on 74 and Ben stokes is on 16 with England 202-5. The magical debutant, who already has 10 for the match, Abrar Ahmed has 3-81 in this dig.
What’s a good score here? Well thankfully they don’t bat half slow, these English batters. So they won’t be thinking if declarations just yet.
I’m off to knock together a much needed coffee. Speak in a bit.