Story The Silent Planet tour

[FishBowlMan]

England's bowlers fight back!!!

India collapsed in dramatic fashion after lunch, falling from 112 / 3 to 182 all out. Some inspired bowling by Hoggard and Giles on a worsening pitch, and some bizarre shots by the batsmen leave England requiring 224 to win with a day & 1 hour remaining.

Ganguly was the first to go, attempting to drive Hoggard and was clean bowled for his trouble. He had looked edgy all day, and maybe seeing the captain go in such dramatic fashion in the first over after lunch made the Indians wary. The run-rate became virtually non-existant for a while and only 45 runs were added for the next 5 wickets. Only Laxman showed any resistance, and he was last to fall - lofting Harmison to mid on for 34. Pathan and Balaji, two of India's batting heros in the first innings could not repeat their performance and both fell cheaply.

Giles was a steadying influence returning figures of 14 overs, 3 for 19. If Kumble gets any sort of run with the ball - England will be in trouble. Flintoff was the only main England bowler to remain wicketless. He may yet play a crucial part in this match with the bat.

 

[FishBowlMan]

A promising start was let down by the middle / late order collapse. Tendulkar will be disappointed to have got out hooking, and Ganguly must seriously question his application. A good 78 in the 1st innings became 2 very jittery runs in the second.

Dravid and Laxman batted well but both were dismissed playing rash shots - albeit to clever pieces of bowling.

Dravid played the ball nicely all over the park - including between the keeper & slips on more than 1 occasion! Everyone's entitled to their share of luck though. Good innings with some lovely cut shots.

 

[FishBowlMan]

Tendulkar and Dravid claimed the innings high partnership. A useful few added by Kumble / Laxman for the last wicket too.

A very economical set of bowling figures. Hoggard and Giles were the main wicket takers in the second innings with Flintoff the only main bowler not to take a wicket this match.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

You actually bowled Butcher over Threscothick and Vaughan on a Dusty pitch???

 

[m_vaughan]

Great comeback. However, a word of warning to you. 224 might seem easy, but believe me its not.

 

[FishBowlMan]

You actually bowled Butcher over Threscothick and Vaughan on a Dusty pitch???

Its a normal pitch not a dusty one. Had the pitch been dusty, Gareth Batty would have been in the team instead of Jones. Butcher bowled a few overs to take some pace off the ball and his bowling attributes in the game are better than Trescothick's. Anyway I come from the days when Butcher was the occasional swing bowler used by England so am sticking with my tradition

Great comeback. However, a word of warning to you. 224 might seem easy, but believe me its not.

Don't worry Mick, I'm under no illusions that this will be easy. I struggled to break 260 in the first innings and the pitch is now taking some spin. I'm a little wary of this one. As we speak the England management are putting signs up in the dressing room (ala the Bumble days ) saying "play sensibly" and "don't panic" etc.


England Innings

England start in positive fashion taking 12 from the first 2 overs. Some leg-side bowling allow plenty of easy scoring shots. The Indian seamers did tighten up their line, but did not threaten at all. It was only the entrance of Kumble that caused some concern. He produced a cracker to bowl Strauss, who in hindsight should have played a shot to the ball that bowled him. England finish day 4 on 39 / 1. They need a further 185 runs to win the first game in this tournament.

 

[FishBowlMan]

An interesting morning here at Lord's on the fifth and final day. With the sun still shining, but forcast of cloudy weather later in the day, England have made steady progress towards the 185 still needed to win. India have also made steady progress towards the 9 wickiets they need! At lunch, the score is 122 / 4 with England needing 102 more runs, and India requiring 6 wickets.

Kumble again has been the most difficult to deal with, claiming both Butcher and Thorpe LBW for not many! Vaughn also fell cheaply cutting Agarkar to gully. Only Trescothick has really looked good, reaching his 50 off 98 balls This included only 3 boundaries showing the gritty nature of the innings.

Tres has finished the session unbeaten on 74. England need him to go on to make a century, and India need to dismiss him quickly, as he is more than capable of "clubbing" up the scoring rate should more wickets fall at the other end. At the moment, the draw is the least likely outcome.

 

[m_vaughan]

Wow! we are in for an exciting finish to this match. I think India have a slight upper hand at this point, as they have dismissed 4 England batsman, and another 2 wickets will expose England's tail.

Looking forward to the climax of this fantastic match.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

Its a normal pitch not a dusty one. Had the pitch been dusty, Gareth Batty would have been in the team instead of Jones. Butcher bowled a few overs to take some pace off the ball and his bowling attributes in the game are better than Trescothick's. Anyway I come from the days when Butcher was the occasional swing bowler used by England so am sticking with my tradition

Sorry, my mistake-another thread.........

 

[FishBowlMan]

Well the predicted clouds have descended on London - just hope the rain holds off as we're in for an exciting finish.

Flintoff and Trescothick added a solid 69 before a lapse of concentration saw Freddie play all around a Kumble delivery. LBW. What is so frustrating from England's point of view is that 3 overs previous, a huge 4 over the top from Freddie forced Ganguly to set some really defensive fields and singles were easy to pick off.

Flintoff gone for 22 and England are 172 / 5 requiring just 52 runs to win. Geraint Jones has joined Trescothick who is 97 not out.

 

[FishBowlMan]

Sorry, my mistake-another thread.........

No worries. There's a lot of good ones worth reading at the mo. Its easy to get confused.



Trescothick has made it to his century from 197 balls. This included 4 fours and a 6. This is incidentally my first ever hundred in Cricket 2004, so I was shocked. Good time to do it as well.

Unfortunately, not long after, Tres has driven the ball to Dravid at short cover. A brilliant diving catch removed the England opener for 104. England are now on 179 / 6.

This very quickly became 179 / 7 when Giles edged to the Keeper, Patel. Kumble now has 6 wickets and England need to stem this mini collapse. The Jones boys are at the crease now. Can they steer England home or will the bowling prevail? 45 runs to win and as Sir Alex would say "Squeaky bum time"

 

[SaiSrini]

He He.. Come on India. You can do it. 3 more wickets and beat England. I am waiting for an Indian victory. Btw, excellent story read Fishbowlman. The fact that you look to be not so great in playing like me makes it so good.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

YOU GOT AN EDGE WITH A SPINNER WHICH WENT TO THE KEEPER!!!!!!! :hpraise
First time I have seen that ........should have gotten a video .....

 

[FishBowlMan]

YOU GOT AN EDGE WITH A SPINNER WHICH WENT TO THE KEEPER!!!!!!! :hpraise
First time I have seen that ........should have gotten a video .....

I've actually got 2 config files - both identical, except for the power values of the edges. One is for the quicks, and 1 for the spinners. What is odd is that the one where Giles edged to the keeper was still using the fast bowler settings. These were the same ones as have being flying past the keeper for 4 runs when I was bowling. Most odd!

Further day 5 update

Tea was taken with England on 195 / 7, with both Jones' playing steadily and working the bowling for singles. The Jones boys put on 33 before a total mix up saw Simon being run out for a superb 16. This made the score 212 / 8 with England needing 12 runs to win.

Geraint is still occupying the crease on 18 and has now been joined by Hoggard.

 

[m_vaughan]

Come on England!! You can do it.