Story The Silent Planet tour

[FishBowlMan]

After tea, both openers slowly increased the run-rate. Hoggard was brought back into the attack, and was immediately rewarded with the wicket of Justin Langer - edging a short ball to Trescothick in the gully. At 83 / 1, this was still a dominant position for Australia. Hayden went on to make his second 50 of the match. He reached this milestone with a huge 6 over cover point - the shot of the match (and possibly the series) so far.

Vaughn brought himself & Giles on to bowl with 5 overs left in the day. This proved a masterstroke as Hayden tried to get after Vaughn immediately. He succeeded only in chipping a catch back to the bowler - 120 / 2.

Ponting and Martyn and are the not out batsmen overnight, on 19 & 11 respectively. Australia finish the day on 137 / 2. Much will depend on the morning session, and this could prove to be the key period of the match. Australia lead by 123 with 8 wickets in hand, and 3 full days to go.

 

[FishBowlMan]

Day 3 brings a welcome change in the weather. The sun is finally out, and it is now reasonably warm. Perfect conditions for Australia to build on their lead! Slow and steady progress (sound familiar?) until Vaughn brings himself in to bowl. It must be a lack of respect for the part-time spinner, as Ponting immediately drives - straight to Freddie at mid on. 188 / 3. Ponting will be annoyed not to have made more than 55.

Some very tight bowling before lunch from Flintoff and Vaughn seemed to rattle the aussie batsmen. Martyn called Lehmann through for a sharp single. A good throw from mid-wicket and quick work from Jones saw Lehmann on his way for 10.

Author's note: OK - it was the run-out bug, but I justify keeping it like this: I had not saved for several overs. England had bowled 7 or 8 overs for about 10 runs and therefore pressured the batsmen somewhat. It was really close, and the 3rd umpire was involved, therfore it seems like a plausible mistake. That's my story and I'm sticking to it

At lunch, Australia are 214 / 4 after 74 overs and lead by exactly 200. Vaughn has figures of 7 overs, 2 for 20. With the new ball due soon, the spinners may well continue immediately after lunch.

 

[FishBowlMan]

Tea on day 3. England's session. Just! Australia finish on 283 / 8 and have a lead of 269. Vaughn refused the new ball for 6 overs, bowling himself and Giles. He was amply rewarded as Giles had Martyn caught at mid off, and, 2 balls later, Gilchrist at silly point without scoring.

Brett Lee showed he meant business, clubbing 28 from 34 balls. He was caught superbly by Vaughn, who had placed himself about 20 yards from the bat, slightly behind square for the hook. Lee fell for the trap and holed out to give the hard-working Hoggard some reward.

There followed a spell of very hostile bowling as Katich, and especially Gillespie were lucky to survive for so long. Gillespie eventually perished, oddly enough, to a full-length delivery to give Flintoff his 1st wicket of the match.

Warne and Katich should aim to bat for as long as they can. There are still 2 days and 1 session remaining in the match. Ample time to bowl England out.

 

[The_gas]

Great work John, i think if your tooth and nail batting can survive the early stages you should make this total, or soon to be total.

On the run out, fair play i would have done the same. Maybe on this ocassion it wasnt a bug because you had built the pressure through a spell of tight overs, you never know

 

[FishBowlMan]

Great work John, i think if your tooth and nail batting can survive the early stages you should make this total, or soon to be total.

On the run out, fair play i would have done the same. Maybe on this ocassion it wasnt a bug because you had built the pressure through a spell of tight overs, you never know

Glad somebody agrees with the run-out. Its always odd what you feel you can and can't accept. Someone will cry foul!

I think we're all beginning to realise the nervy state of my batting. At least I should have plenty of time to scrape out these runs.


End of Australia's innings

2 runs were added after tea - both to Katich. Freddie bowled a superb over that saw Warne play and miss three times, and a very close LBW shout. It may just have hit outside the line of off stump. No matter - he was plumb LBW net ball. The least Flintoff deserved.

McGrath did not have to face as from the next ball - the start of Giles' 13th over, Katich holed out to Strauss at deep extra cover. Australia all out for 285.

England require 272 to win. Its imperative they get off to a good start!

England's top & middle order have not performed yet in this competition. This would be an ideal time for Strauss, Butcher, Vaughn & Thorpe to step up to the plate. Before we kick off with England's chase - here are some stats from Australia's 2nd innings:

 

[FishBowlMan]

Australia will be disappointed at the end. A number of batsmen made good starts, and then got themselves out.

 

[FishBowlMan]

Some good bowling figures by England. Vaughn's 2 wickets were crucial, breaking partnerships that were settled. Unlike the 1st innings, the fast / mediums Hoggard & Flintoff were more effective than the quicker guys - Harmison / Jones.

 

[m_vaughan]

A tricky run chase awaits England. Come on England!!

 

[ZoraxDoom]

How come Jones got only 10 overs?
Good luck.
EDIT: Noticed you got the 7-ball-an-over bug......no mention of that?

 

[FishBowlMan]

How come Jones got only 10 overs?
Good luck.
EDIT: Noticed you got the 7-ball-an-over bug......no mention of that?

Neither Jones nor Harmison were particularly dangerous in the 2nd innings. I'd bowled Harmison a fair bit before I'd worked this out lol.

Well spotted with the 7-ball over. I hadn't picked up on that. Rep points for you sir Giles' figures seem correct. Katich (the last man out) was from the 1st ball of Giles' over.

 

[m_vaughan]

How come Jones got only 10 overs?
Good luck.
EDIT: Noticed you got the 7-ball-an-over bug......no mention of that?

yes have noticed that quite a few times. Is it actually a 7 ball over, or just a error in the calculation?

 

[FishBowlMan]

yes have noticed that quite a few times. Is it actually a 7 ball over, or just a error in the calculation?

Not sure. Sometimes I'm convinced it is 7; sometimes I think its just the indicator that's wrong. You know when you get that "did that really happen?" feeling... Will try and pay more attention next time it occurs.

 

[FishBowlMan]

Its imperative they get off to a good start!

Anyone who's been reading Shailesh's ashes story thread will know by now that if I tip a horse for a race, it will most likely fall at the 1st and the vet will start hunting for the shotgun cartriages! So its no surprise to learn that with 15 on the board, Trescothick is caught behind off Gillespie.

England's top & middle order have not performed yet in this competition. This would be an ideal time for Strauss, Butcher, Vaughn & Thorpe to step up to the plate.

Drinks were taken when Tresco was out, and instead of the usual orange juice, Butcher and Strauss enjoyed a bottle of Leffe blonde belgian beer! England close the day on 87 / 1 after 23 overs. Leffe seems to be the way to go as it has been the best England batting performance in a session for ages. Judgement and timing seem to have improved immesurably and if that's not a gread advert for the product, I don't know what is! (Incidentally, both batsmen got a taxi back to the hotel - it is 6.6% after all )

Although still 185 behind, that works out at just over 1 an over for the next 2 days. Australia will hope that their superstition of unlucky 87 affects the 2 batsmen before tomorrow. England, conversely expect Strauss (41) and Butcher (43) to make their half centuries and carry on for a big partnership. Who can tell with the England batting line up. This game could still go either way!

 

[barmyarmy]

On the runout. I did the same against Aus because I had got a beautiful bowled with a spinner earlier in the over and the runout was of no.11.

 

[FishBowlMan]

Play was delayed here for a while as both teams were glued to the radio listening to the conclusion of the 2nd test between India & Pakistan. (Saisrini80's thread). At the conclusion, the players dashed out into the middle here, in case the 3rd test was started and the Nottingham crowd were robbed of any more live cricket here at Trent Bridge.

Update - day 4

Lunch on day 4 finds England on 146 / 2. The Australian bowlers have pegged back the England scoring somewhat - although run rate is not an issue here. So far, only one power shot has been attempted. That from Butcher whose on-drive brought up his 50. Strauss reached his not long after with a beautiful straight drive past the bowler; this one all along the ground.

On 63, Strauss attempted another cut. Unfortunately for him, he hit it too close to Ponting who took a fine diving catch. England were on 123 / 2 at that point, but calm play from Butcher, who is on 72, and the new man Vaughn, 3 not out, means England require 126 more runs for victory.