Sensational performance from England today, bowling Pakistan out from 90-2 to 119 all out from 6-19 from Steve Harmison and also an impressive 3 wicket haul for Monty Panesar, on a pitch which offered more to pace bowlers he was getting substantial turn.
Trescothick and Strauss got out to lazy shots but Cook scored 65 not out and Pietersen's on 38 over night. England are 168-2. If we make 400, the game will surey be beyond Pakistan as the pitch is uneven and wearing with lots of cracks and it's only going to get worse.
Yeah it was a pretty awesome performance. There were a few places for improvement but if the whole team could stay at that level of intensity for the rest of the match/series and or next ashes we will have a great chance of winning all of those. If england score 335-350 and have a lead of more than 200 i cant see pakistan winning. With that total, pakistan will struggle to set a target let alone win the match though i think they'll bat better than they did in the first innings (as good as the bowling was, some of the batting was crap). Cooks was looking in fine touch and if he can help himself to a century or maybe even more i'd be very pleased. The pivotal thing is that we dont lose a wicket early on cos the wickets seem to be tumbling quickly.
I'm gonna predict that england will be all out for 387 and i'll also back monty to bag himself a michelle and Sajid mahmood to get amongst the wickets when pakistan bat again.
Thanks to brilliant centuries from bell and cook england are in a magnificent position at 461-9 dec, with pak at 12-0 a lead of 330. Only downer is that we're not sure how fit harmy is
Oh and sri lanka are showing they are not a bad side as many english critics were saying when england failed to beat them this summer. Against South africa, SL are 604-2 after bowling out south africa for 169 and doing so, Sangkakkara (277*) and jayawardane (286*) have set a record test partnership, currently at 590 runs!!!!!
....But will Harmison be OK today after pulling a muscle in his side on the first ball bowled last night? Wouldn't that be typical - just as he was back in world #1 form....
(on the other hand, if Jones has to take time out with his finger injury, we might get another chance to look at Chris Read without it being a loss of face for Fletcher)
I just knew Panesar would have a great second innings. He is looking VERY menacing and has snapped up 4 of the pakistani wickets included the prized scalps of danger men - Inzamam and Mohammed Yousuf! Pakistan are 169-5, still behind by 175 runs!!!
rain has delayed play tho :( - still plenty of time for a results and overcast conditions just play into englands hands!
