Fourth Investec Ashes Test, England v Australia, Chester le Street 9-13 Aug 2013

[Titanic]

England 186-4 (59.2 overs) leading by 154 runs

Bell 75* Bairstow 18*

Off for 'bad light'

 

[Titanic]

Ridiculous bit of umpiring.. they are back out already.

 

[vegster]

But Pietersen makes up for it with a gift dismissal just when England looked like building a nice lead.

At least he dug in when needed, it's better him walking off with 44 rather than taking on the bowlers from the off and walking off with 4

 

[Si Gull]

At least he dug in when needed, it's better him walking off with 44 rather than taking on the bowlers from the off and walking off with 4

Didn't mean to jump on the anti-KP bandwagon; he played well with Bell to get us into a much better position. I was just disappointed that he couldn't find that extra level of composure to go on and make a big, potentially match-winning score.

 

[Titanic]

Bairstow gone... caught behind off Lyon for 28 (another innings for him lightly below expectations?)

England 221-5, lead by 189.

Bresnan in as nightwatchman.

 

[vegster]

Bairstow gone... caught behind off Lyon for 28 (another innings for him lightly below expectations?)

England 221-5, lead by 189.

Bresnan in as nightwatchman.

This could all go horribly wrong....

 

[Titanic]

Ian Bell 100* (184 balls)

He really has been England's finest in this Ashes series... three centuries in the series so far... and presently the leading run scorer (487), and over 200 runs ahead of KP (276) the next highest scorer.

 

[vegster]

Well done Ian Bell, this could be a match winning ton if he can push on.

 

[spring hall convert]

Superb hundred from Bell. I have been a Bell critic in the past but he's been ultra-reliable in this series.

 

[Titanic]

and England's 2nd innings lead reaches 200, with 5 wickets in hand

232-5

 

[Titanic]

Close of play on Day 3.

England 234-5 (leading by 202 runs).

Bell 105* (189 balls) Bresnan 4* (21 balls)

Six sessions to go... all four results are still possible.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Ian Bell 100* (184 balls)

He really has been England's finest in this Ashes series... three centuries in the series so far... and presently the leading run scorer (487), and over 200 runs ahead of KP (276) the next highest scorer.

To think he once had a tag of only getting 100's when England were doing well, every knock this series has been crucial and match changing.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Well played Ian Bell! Only the third English batsman in history to score 3 100's in an ashes series, first to do it since David Gower in 2005. And he was England's weak link before the series!

Great stuff. Lead 202. Decent morning tomorrow and we can put this match to bed.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Well played Ian Bell! Only the third English batsman in history to score 3 100's in an ashes series, first to do it since David Gower in 2005. And he was England's weak link before the series!

Great stuff. Lead 202. Decent morning tomorrow and we can put this match to bed.

What a great series that was for Gower in 2005, especially given his age!

 

[spring hall convert]

Well played Ian Bell! Only the third English batsman in history to score 3 100's in an ashes series, first to do it since David Gower in 2005. And he was England's weak link before the series!

Great stuff. Lead 202. Decent morning tomorrow and we can put this match to bed.

It's in a HOME Ashes series, I think as Broad and possibly Cook & Vaughan have done it over there.

 

[Brovion]

Fantastic day's cricket, really enjoyed that. We're on top without being out of sight, if tomorrow morning the Aussies do to us what we did to them ...

 

[Bold Seagull]

Fantastic day's cricket, really enjoyed that. We're on top without being out of sight, if tomorrow morning the Aussies do to us what we did to them ...

New ball in 6 overs, at the moment, I'd say it was dead neck and neck.

 

[El Turi]

It's probably been mentioned but why did this test start on a Friday as it means most people won't be able to watch the last two days of play.

 

[BensGrandad]

What do people consider an attainable lead that would put us in a position to bowl them out and win the match

 

[Bold Seagull]

What do people consider an attainable lead that would put us in a position to bowl them out and win the match

I think their in enough form for me to worry they'll chase anything under 270. Pitch is still good. 70 more runs and I would consider us favourites 250-270 evens, anything less than 250 and they're favourite IMHO.