The Cricket Thread

Pope gone bugger!

 

At least the outfield is still very fast.

 

17 off of Boult’s first over compensates for the loss of Pope

 

I suspect Organ's career best bowling figures of 5-25 will be bettered today.

 

14mm rain per hour and non-stop thunder here. That'll give veg and borders a good soaking. Raining runs at Headingley.

 

Fourth time lucky to get Pepper

 

The more runs scored by Surrey down the order, the more hope I have that Kent might be able to bat out a draw. The pitch is clearly as flat as anything.

 

Utterly stupendous from Joe and Jonny, and how completely appropriate that the winning runs should come with a 6 from Bairstow.

 

Bairstow has to be man of the series

 

Bet India are regretting getting that final test postponed now!

 

Amazing turn round and in such style!

 

The match is clearly over, but the players can't go out thinking like that. They have to try and optimise their chances of scoring 299 - and for me that means Holland and Organ taking on Cook, or whoever bowls without the name Harmer on their back.

Now sure Cook is a very good bowler, and will probably get one or both of them out. But Harmer will get them out anyway, so there's nothing to lose.

If they're not prepared to attack from the off, then open with Vince.

 

Fair play to get through those overs.

 

The chase is on!

Only joking, I realise that as soon as 1 wicket goes, that will probably be 2 or 3 quickly and the whole atmosphere will change. However, it would make things interesting if we can, somehow, survive the first hour tomorrow without loss.

 

I’m hoping for lunch but then I’ve always been a glass half full type. Nothings done until …..

 

Well done guys. Even on a decent wicket we wouldn't usually get a 50 run opening partnership.

 

When you consider that with this many runs on the board in the previous three innings, the batting sides were 5-down, 6-down and 5-down, it's mightily impressive. If a little, um, scary.

 

Smack! Organ hits Harmer into the stand!

 

Organ looks quite solid against Harmer, whereas Holland looks all at sea. But whilst he's still there, it doesn't matter. The bounce has tended to die down in this match after about the 40th over, so the longer Holland can hang in there, the better.

 

That's a top, top 50 from Felix.