[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

There were no more fireworks in the last four overs. Warne spun a couple past the bat and Compton clobbered Border for another four

Close of play score: England 87-2 (Gower 22 Compton 16) overs 24

England need 296 to win - final day tomorrow

 

[jakarta]

No chance of winning this, very little chance of the draw, with the exception of Hammond our Middle Order are Blasters and Warne has a Fifth Day Pitch to play with. Suspect we will get around 270 and lose. More concerned about the Larwood injury, does this mean Barnes is back in the frame?

 

[Gwylan]

It's been slow progress this morning. Lillee an Thomson are bowling - no doubt Warned will be on soon. The batsmen are taking no chances

England 98-2 (Gower 26 Compton 20) overs 30

 

[jakarta]

Any chance of a prolonged downpour?

 

[Gwylan]

Warne and Miller have replaced Lillee and Thomson. There's been nothing untoward from Warne yet - there have been a couple that span out of footmarks but they've been very wide and Gilchrist has given away a few byes. Amazingly, given who's batting, there have only been a couple of fours - one each for Gower and Compton

England 121-2 (Gower 34 Compton 30) overs 38

 

[Gwylan]

There's the first sign of trouble - that was a booming leg break from Warne that flashed past Compton's bat - he very nearly edged that. He does edge that one though and it shoots past Chappell at slip and Smith in the gully. He gets a lucky one. Gower is very watchful and sees of the rest of the over.

It's still Miller at the other end and Compton plays him on the offside for two and turns it away for another single. Gower blocks the last ball of the over

England 125-2 (Gower 34 Compton 34) overs 40

 

[Gwylan]

Warne is asking a few questions now. One ball keeps low and Compton just about keeps it out, there's another one that just misses the edge and one loops up in the air. I think there was some bat on that but it falls to ground safely. That's an eventful maiden

A change of bowling at the Statham end and it's Border on. The first ball is too full and too wide and Gower gleefully wallops it for four. He follows that with an exquisite cover drive for four more - he's really looking to get after Border.

He goes for the drive again but there's no footwork there and he only succeeds in spooning a simple catch to Lillee at mid-off. That was a lazy shot from Gower, just as he was getting set

England 133-3 (Gower c Lillee b Border 42 Compton not out 34) overs 42

 

[Gwylan]

Compton's not having fun against Warne. he's beaten three times in a row and eventually goes for a wild sweep - it goes over Gilchrist's head and they run three. That really could have gone anywhere. Hammon gets a peach of a ball to end the over.

Border's a bit tidier this over but Compton still gets two runs from a push through mid-wicket

England 138-3 (Compton 39 Hammond 0) overs 44

 

[Gwylan]

Hammond looks more comfortable against Warne than Compton did - he meets deliveries with a dead bat until the final ball of the over which is driven past the bowler for four.

And Compton hits Border for four before taking a single to deep mid wicket. Hammond drives wide of mid-off for another single

England 148-3 (Compton 44 Hammond 5) overs 46

 

[jakarta]

As an act of purest optimism, is Larwood fit to bat?

 

[Gwylan]

We've had four more overs of the Warne/Border combo and both are beginning to find some turn. Hammond looks more in control than Compton but there have been no real scares

England 158-3 (Compton 48 Hammond 11) overs 50

 

[Gwylan]

As an act of purest optimism, is Larwood fit to bat?

He will bat

 

[Gwylan]

This is the last over before lunch. Warne to bowl to Hammond and that's turned away for two behind square. He watches resolutely and seems to pick the googly.

Last ball before the interval and Hammond lunges forward - the ball loops up in the air into the hands of Hayden and short leg - the Aussies go wild but Bucknor shakes his head,.

Bradman immediately asks for a review - the fielders are convinced this is out

 

[Gwylan]

Oh my goodness, there's the faintest of faint edges onto the pad - a feather's breadth but Hammond has to go

Lunch score England 160-4 Hammond c Hayden b Warne 13 Compton 48) overs 51

 

[Gwylan]

So, England need 223 to win with 63 overs remaining. Compton has reined himself in superbly this morning and is still there. Stokes, Botham and Prior to come so there's still some batting but the Aussies must be favourites.

The sun is beating down - no chance of rain - and the wicket is increasingly showing signs of wear and tear. But, in Stokes and Botham, England have two miracle workers

 

[Gwylan]

It’s as we were before lunch. Border and Warne are still bowling and Stokes and Compton are playing sensibly. The ball is doing a bit now though

England 165-4 (Compton 49 Stokes 4) overs 54

 

[Gwylan]

Warne continues to Stokes and that’s over-pitched and Stokes shows some aggression and smashes it through the offside for four. He turns it behind square for a single and Compton reaches his 50 with a less than convincing cut – that was a bit uppish – but he does get two for it.
Border is bowling a nice line and length now and is beginning to find some turn. Stokes limits himself to one off the over.

England 173-4 (Compton 51 Stokes 10) overs 56

 

[Gwylan]

Warne baffles Stokes with a googly but it goes off the inside edge for a single. Compton is getting frustrated by the accuracy of Warne’s bowling and nearly holes out when he tries to hit him inside out – it drops just short of Trumper.
Stokes is beaten by Border’s arm ball but then strikes him confidently to long off for three. Compton is beaten by a ball that turns past the edge – the pitch is showing more and more help to the bowlers

England 177-4 (Compton 51 Stokes 14) overs 58

 

[Gwylan]

Stokes pushes Warne for a single and Compton is beaten by a fizzing googly - that evades Gilchrist too and it’s another four byes. Compton scores his first run for some time with a dab down to third man.
And that’s Compton’s first four for some time, he smashes that past Border’s right hand but he’s beaten by the next one and I think that was a missed stumping as Compton found himself in no-man’s land

England 187-4 (Compton 56 Stokes 15) overs 60

 

[jakarta]

But, in Stokes and Botham, England have two miracle workers

If we were at Headingley it would be nailed on but sadly we are on t'other side of the Pennines...