Dropped catches are the main story from the test thus far. What is follow on? 324 runs behind still suggests it won't be long but this has avoided the innings defeat at least. It's headed for draw or late collapse.
185 deficit and pope and bairstow gone. Stokes and root in with 11 over old ball. They need to get another 100 to make thebdraw
Don't know how you guys can sit and watch this ****. I've only got it on in the background and it's still boring the pants off me!!!
It's close enough that a brave declare might panic England but if I were nz I'd settle for the draw as the pitch isn't falling apart enough to think you.can run through England even with their mad panic style.
Well root will be aiming for 200 but you.cant really on the tail here much. If its parity for England tbh it'll be good. Foakes has two escapes and stokes for me was by far too attacking and just silly stuff so partly will be good. After that it will be about whether nz are brave enough to try score for a declaration or try see out time. Day 4 tomorrow. There is time for a declaration.
so far 15 wickets have scored a thousand runs and eng lave 15 wickets left so if anything eng have the upper hand
Well if the pitch was deteriorating just a bit more I'd disagree. First hurdle is parity and I'm thinking that will get us to luncheon. 1.5 days for 20 wickets? I don't really see it given the lack of options both sides have. Could come down to actually holding catches
hold on you can't have it that 20 wickets is unlikely but us losing 15 plus NZ get enough runs between is on of they are brave . It is a draw unless someone ****s up mega time .
Which is my point. First we are about 1 wicket from the total tail here and 80 runs behind. Second the pitch doesn't look like it's deteriorating much so if they get into us quickly in the morning and have the lead then it's possible we might face a 300 lead on the final day. Unfortunately this is where we do agree. "Unless someone ****s up mega" this is what England do. Can get on run of panicked batsmen swinging away madly and get skittled. It should really be a draw, totally agree but England are very capable of ****ing this
****ing hell. Joe Root playing T20 shots 495 - 5 and trail by 58. As MITO said, there have been a lot of dropped catches by both sides, so if the pitch does start to go, a result is still possible, but a draw is by far the most likely outcome. Root has been brilliant again and superb support from Foakes again, who has also played some lovely shots.
If the team wants to be "attacking" then they do need to get either a lead or parity asap and have a bowl at this lot. They can always slow the game down when bowling if they don't feel the lead is catchable. Its now what 1.5 hours to lunch. You'd want to have a go at them like mad til then or be out and see where you are. have a right do at them and try get <100/4or 5 and see if you can go for win. OR sit tight and run out time and everyone sleep through.
If the tactic is attack then go for it! roots certainly left runs behind being attacking there. Foakes has a decent score.
