2nd Investec Test Match - England v West Indies - Headingly

[pasty]

Going to be quite an interesting day today I think. We need to build a big enough lead to defend but at the same time leave enough time to try and bowl them out but not enough time to let them get whatever total we set. Hoping for something like a 200+ lead.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Root goes for 72

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

212 for 4

With the following batsman playing or to play

Dawid Malan
Ben Stokes
Jonny Bairstow(wk)
Moeen Ali
Chris Woakes
Stuart Broad
James Anderson

We have a 43 run lead

What do we need, I think another 160 gives us a chance if the pitch starts turning

 

[BensGrandad]

The only things that is not a concern as regards a win for either side is time but the longer we can bat the less time for them to chase a winner.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Are West Indies getting a new ball soon.

 

[knocky1]

After lunch for the new ball. Looks like the big boy Gabriel has been given extra rest. I'd have taken it earlier.
Interesting session coming up.

 

[pasty]

First hour after lunch is going to be pivotal.

 

[larus]

At lunch England lead by 82 with 4 down.

Malan is grinding a score out, but with Bairstow, Ali and Woakes still to come, we could still post a decent target. I'd say a minimum of 250 and we'd need the other bowlers to support Anderson better in their second innings. Considering the first 2 days, we've done well to get back here.

Only concern is that we still look weak in top-order batting. Root/Cook won't keep scoring every match and if the other 3 in the top 5 can't get decent runs we're going to struggle in Aus.

 

[pasty]

Only concern is that we still look weak in top-order batting. Root/Cook won't keep scoring every match and if the other 3 in the top 5 can't get decent runs we're going to struggle in Aus.

We'll be fine Aussie card against Bangladesh

 

[jakarta]

New ball taken post Lunch, this pair need to survive the next hour even if they don't score too much.

If they do England could well set a winning total. Goes without saying that I'm not optimistic about this of course.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

50 Patnership

Malan and Stokes

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Malan 50 off 162 balls

Nearly 4 hours

 

[BensGrandad]

Malan 50 off 162 balls

Nearly 4 hours

We need somebody who can stay in and graft for a 50 as well as the speed scorers.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Stokes 51 off 92

Just under 2 hours

 

[LamieRobertson]

We need somebody who can stay in and graft for a 50 as well as the speed scorers.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

300 up for 4

Effectively 132 for 4

 

[fleet]

61 enormously helpful in the context of this test - but Malan never really looked comfortable at the crease.

 

[big nuts]

6 down now. The game is back on a knife edge now. Big partnership now between our two last genuine top order batsman.

 

[BensGrandad]

Need another 50 + partnership to give us any hope.

 

[jakarta]

149 lead, need at least another 50, you wouldn't fancy a 200 plus run chase on the fifth day?