International cricket thread

MFPM

Well, well, well..England 6/2!

Strumms

Hameed gone too now... not a great shot he’ll be wincing look back at that, jeez a very poor shot, neither the line or length would have made that ball ok to cut.

MFPM

Root and Malan steadied the ship here and batting fairly freely. If India are to have any chance in this game they need to get Root out for a relatively low score.

MFPM

Root bowled by Yadav for 21!! Potentially huge for the game, Root has held a relatively fragile batting line up together.

MFPM

Good start for India, Overton out quickly. If they can skittle a few more quickly then we could be in for a tight game but England just need a few decent partnerships to put the pressure on India.

MFPM

Malan gone now! 62/5

MFPM

Good fight back by Pope and Bairstow.

MFPM

Bairstow is gone for 37...No one seems to want to get a big score here. England nearing India's total with 4 wickets remaining.

Doodah7

I think an England lead of 100 by close of play tonight would be significant in the context of a low-ish scoring game. Pope looks well set and it is always do-or-die with Moeen: big score or bust.

Doodah7

And it's bust!

Strumms

Think from here England would be satisfied if they can get around a lead of 100-120 by close... that’s still a nice cushion. Obviously being 7 wickets down that’s nothing even approaching a formality but a great first over post tea, 12 runs from it, Pope 75 not out and Wokes is very able with the bat...if they can stick around together a nice healthy lead is possible.

MFPM

Terrible first over after tea by Bumrah, 3 boundries for Woakes..

Strumms

Pope looks devastated to fall 19 short of his second career century... a pretty average delivery is met with a poor shot ....just hung the bat rather then trying to play a deliberate shot...

Strumms

India showing Woakes a lot of respect, just the one slip for him and plenty of men by the boundary... rather then hitting the ball he’s hitting through it with power and precision.

MFPM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117843070#Comment_117843070

Some of the India bowling to him was woeful, he must have 3/4 boundaries down to third man.

MFPM

England with a lead of 99, lower than they would have hoped for but bigger than they could have expected at 62/5. India have to bat better if they stand any chance of putting England under pressure, at the very least they can't lose a wicket this evening.

Strumms

India should be one down, the ball hits Burns on his foot in the slips, he doesn’t see it... weird.... you be expect to use some kind of glasses if because of the brightness or the murky background you dont pick up the ball.

MFPM

Today could be really decisive in this test. The weather is set to be good, it should be the best batting conditions of the match. The Indian openers coped well with the English bowlers last evening.

England just about favourites at the moment but if India bat well then a 200+ lead by the end of the day is possible.

Strumms

England in a bit of trouble. Unable to take a wicket still in this innings which is 32 overs in now... run rate is slow which is the only plus... been a couple of chances not taken too between last evening and today which will frustrate England all the more.

Xander10

Didn't look like a nick. Suppose spike is correct

Strumms

Rahul gone, a clear spike on ultra edge as the ball passes the edge of the bat... I’d say Rahul might be lucky to escape sanction as after the decision is given...he initially is not walking and then appears to protest the decision with the standing umpires... to be honest that would be a positive outcome, a little too much mouthing from some of these India lads, you are given, you go, unjust decision or not.

Strumms

Looked there as if Root was really desperate to review that lbw, Moeen didn’t seem at all interested... DRS showing missing the stumps by about 6/7 inches....a desperation review.

MFPM

India's morning, but they're still effectively 9/1. England bowling generally poor, questionable tactics by Root too. Rahul a little unfortunate with that dismissal.

MFPM

Good steady batting by India, here effectively 50/1. Stark contrast to their recent batting performances...

Strumms

Moeen has been economical but scarcely looked like taking a wicket.. not surprising really. The Oval pitches are in modern times not as conducive to spin bowling as in the past..

Strumms

another review wasted. About a foot away from the bat and going over the stumps by the same.

Rohit goes to his hundred with a sublime hit.. a 6, going about 60 meters back into the crowd over long off... the nearly catch in the crowd was in the second tier...Moeen doing his best impressions of a bowling machine.

MFPM

Great century by Rohit, really disciplined batting, what a way to do it, with a six! Silly review by England before that, Root pushed into it, it seems. Lead approaching 100 for India, England need a few wickets, Anderson still looking the most likely, Robinson struggling a bit and Moeen hasn't looked threatening.

MFPM

What was Rohit doing, a nothing ball and he gifts England a wicket. If the two set batsmen could gave seen the new ball out for a few overs then Kohli come in then England might have really struggled. Interesting to see how Kohli goes, he's well overdue a big score...

Strumms

Yep, this is a big innings for Kohli, as I type he gets close to nicking one... looks never, he doesn’t usually.

MFPM

Now Pujara...how quickly it can change, Robinson has been flat all day and a wicket out of nowhere.