Eng in Pak, Oct 7-28

[andy]

Lead of 50 would be huge on this pitch I think

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well, that certainly looks possible. England spinners on top. Three for Rehan.

[Durhamfootman]

the door is definitely ajar. Can England kick it open?

[sussexpob]

the door is definitely ajar. Can England kick it open?

Not giving up a huge 9th wicket partnership like last week would help. 50 lead as Andy says feels hard to over come

[meninblue]

Some lead + 3 spinners will be enough imo for England to win. This time they would not even need the collapse of Pakistan batting lineup. But still they will find a way to collapse as old habits don't die.

[sussexpob]

I really love watching Saud Shakeel bat. Its like a time portal to a bygone era of test cricket.... stand still, head and eyes straight, move the feet to the ball, play straight, play with the spin when being aggressive. Don't get techniques like this anymore.

Stance reminds me of Sachin in its stillness.

[Durhamfootman]

the door is definitely ajar. Can England kick it open?

Nope

If Pakistan replicate England's first innings lower order partnership, then they might be the ones with a 50 run lead

[sussexpob]

Meanwhile, much as Smith and Atkinson did yesterday, Shakeel and Noman are hanging in there.

England's lead is no longer going to be decisive, if they even get a lead.

[Durhamfootman]

according to crapinfo, the two Pakistan spinners that I'd never heard of bowled unchanged for 89.5 overs across two matches and 3 innings

[sussexpob]

Take a bow Saud..... these are tough conditions, series on the line.... chanceless, masterful batting

[sussexpob]

Maybe its just because I am English and obviously have a perception bias towards it, but I would love to know in the last 15 odd years how many times England get a team 7-8-9-10 down and how many big partnerships they have given up. It feels like a real regular thing that we give up big partnerships at the end of innings.

[Durhamfootman]

try being a Durham supporter.... we do that in almost every match

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not giving up a huge 9th wicket partnership like last week would help.

Well, it's not a ninth wicket partnership.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Crucial wicket for Bashir. If they can knock over the last two, they won't be badly placed.

[sussexpob]

This has been abject from England since lunch. Thrown away what should have been a commanding lead into what is now increasingly looking a daunting deficit on this wicket.

57 ahead.... covering the 4th innings disadvantage at this point I reckon.