Live Test Match Blogging / Andrew Hughes / 28 August 2010 / Leave a Comment

It's a key day at Lord's with the Test match nicely poised thanks to a stirring England fightback - layers make the draw the favourite result, but early wickets or more big runs could see either team go on to win. Andrew Hughes talks you through the action

Close. 6.23 Pak 41-4
Moyo is the latest to be out twice in a day, playing a barely believable little lob out to square leg. A few seconds later it has started raining, quite heavily. And that will be that as they've only got a few minutes to get back out there by 6.30. Possibly the worst day's cricket in Pakistan's history. England finish the day on [1.01]. Join me tomorrow for the closing formalities.

WICKET 6.23 Pak 41-4
M Yousuf c Trott b Finn 10

6.16 Pak 41-3
Another wicket gone, but between them, the drinks break and Moyo's injured finger, these two batsmen have done enough to ensure that we'll be back again tomorrow morning.

WICKET 6.16 Pak 41-3
S Butt lbw b Swann 21

6.02 Pak 34-2
Yawn. Finn is 'sledging' Salman Butt. Pakistan are 338 runs behind, have 8 wickets left and are heading for a massive defeat. So what is the point of mouthing off? Hard to warm to this bunch of England players. And what is wrong with the umpires? Have a word, Billy .

5.48 Pak 16-2
Steven Finn is back on with his telescopic arm, but the spectators have been cleared out of the area to one side of the sight screen, so no excuses for the Pakistan batsmen. Not that their excuses were valid anyway. More dynamic captaincy from Strauss. Three men on the boundary and just the two slips.

5.40 Pak 9-2
The umpires are getting twitchy. It's shadows you see, the scourge of the modern age. I don't think they'll be out too much longer. Saying that, Salman Butt has just belted a ball for four, so clearly visibility isn't a problem.

5.33 Pak 9-2
The floodlights are slowly flickering on as the clouds gather, but Pakistan are doing their best to be out of there tonight. Moyo is in again, needing just a triple century to get Pakistan back into the game. If you've had a drink or two and fancy a dramatic turn around, you can back Salman Butt's boys at [500.0]. And the best of luck to you.

WICKET 5.33 Pak 9-2
Y Hamid lbw b Anderson 3

5.21 Pak 7-1
Pakistan have gone in the brain, says Nasser Hussain. Not the most articulate expression, but I think we know what he means. Out comes Salman Butt. Again.

WICKET 5.20 Pak 7-1
I Farhat c Cook b Broad 5

5.15 Pak 2-0
Will it be all over tonight? Rain is in the air and was forecast and with the light fading, it seems unlikely. Surely Pakistan can't bat that badly again. Can they?

5.06 Pak 0-0
Off we go again with Pakistan following in just the small matter of 372 runs behind. It's getting a bit gloomy at Lord's, the telescopic lights are going up and the bad light pantomime may soon be upon us. England are [1.08] and the draw as high as [12.0]

4.56 Pak 74-all out
Feeble stuff from Pakistan, who look as though they've had enough. And yet, you can guarantee that when the fifty over stuff comes round, they'll suddenly regain their interest. If you're a Pakistan supporter, how angry are you?

WICKET 4.56 Pak 74-all out
M Asif c and b Swann 0

WICKET 4.52 Pak 74-9
W Riaz lbw b Swann 2

4.48 Pak 70-8
Really poor stuff from Akmal, K. One of the senior batsmen in the team, but has batted like a novice. If you want to get on board the England bandwagon now, you'll have to take [1.11] and if you believe in miracles, try the [300.0] about a Pakistan win. Why have the tourists batted so badly? Is there something in the theory that they play too much domestic limited overs cricket and not enough of the longer version? Email me and let me know what you think.

WICKET 4.48 Pak 70-8
K Akmal c Prior b Finn 8

4.31 Pak 57-7
Another success for the review system. A low full toss from Finn hit Amir on the pads, given not out, but overturned on review. There will be talk about the sight screen, but Pakistan had ample opportunity to inspect the ground before the match. Recalls the problems at Edgbaston when Kallis was complaining that he couldn't see Flintoff's deliveries. Tough, I'm afraid. England down to [1.15] and the draw has sailed out to [7.2]

WICKET 4.31 Pak 57-7
M Amir lbw b Finn 0

4.27 Pak 57-6
Reliable, the Akmals. I expect Kamran will be gone shortly, probably by chopping a shortish one to point. Once again Amir is having to repair the damage. That was a good reverse swinging delivery by Finn, which will boost his chances of starting at Brisbane. He's also doing better from the Nursery End.

WICKET 4.27 Pak 57-6
U Akmal b Finn 6

4.15 Pak 53-5
Swann turns another one square and Azhar Ali nicks it to short leg via his pads. England down to [1.29] which is probably about as short as they should be right now. The Akmals are together so anything can happen. Although what is most likely to happen is that one of them will be out quite soon.

WICKET 4.15 Pak 53-5
A Ali c Cook b Swann 10

4.10 Pak 53-4
Absurd delay. Umar Akmal wants a bigger sightscreen. He can't have one. What is it with batsmen? Shadows, moisture, artificial lights, insufficiently high sightscreens; life can be so tough sometimes. Get on with the game!

4.04 Pak 50-4
Umar Akmal launches his third ball for a boundary. Hard not to warm to the youngster and he certainly has the talent to score big. Whether he's got the temperament remains to be seen. The chatter around the wicket is tiresome. Am I the only one who thinks England are the feeblest sledgers in world cricket. Leave it to the Aussies, chaps.

4.02 Pak 46-4
Immediate breakthrough. First ball after tea and Salman Butt misses one. There then ensues an extraordinary delay as Butt is reluctant to leave the field. I think he was seriously considering reviewing it but finally dragged himself away from the crease. England down to [1.5] and the draw creeping up to [3.0]

WICKET 4.00 Pak 46-4
S Butt b Swann 26

3.58 Pak 46-3
Right then, a long session ahead of us and some changeable weather. England could seal the series before close of play today and if they are going to do it, Graeme Swann will be the key man. Prices stagnated a little before tea and England are currently [1.72]

Tea. Pak 46-3
Same again for Pakistan. As we suspected, they were vulnerable to another collapse despite the conditions. The draw price of [1.74] was too short at the start of the innings and if you'd laid that, you can still trade out even now at [2.3]. Swann is turning the ball a long way and we expect conditions to cloud over. I'm off for a cup of Earl Grey, back in twenty minutes.

3.25 Pak 44-3
Swann is on at last. England are on [1.76] and the draw [2.3]. He often gets a wicket in his first over so stand by...

3.11 Pak 43-3
Butt is taking Finn on. Those deliveries floated up outside the off stump look like England are trying to buy a wicket but it isn't working and I think we'll see Graeme Swann before too much longer. England are [1.69] and rightly so, providing they stay patient, they should be able to force home their advantage.

3.03 Pak 36-3
Not for the first time this summer, Salman Butt is having to dig in, but he's getting some help from Finn who is bowling some ordinary stuff out there. Clouding over again and Anderson is back on from the Nursery End.

2.44 Pak 14-3
Clouds have gone and these two are digging in. The draw price has stabilised at [2.68] England big favourites now on [1.59]

2.28 Pak 10-3
Moyo just not picking up the full straight one. It has got a little gloomier at Lord's and he does have a weakness against that kind of delivery early on. Draw is [3.0] and rising and with Yousuf gone, if you haven't traded out yet, it's probably worth hanging on for a while as conditions suddenly look good for bowling.

WICKET 2.27 Pak 10-3
M Yousuf b Broad 0

2.21 Pak 9-2
Another bit of fishing and another wicket goes down. Ramiz Raja can barely disguise his disgust. Draw going out to [2.5] now. Yousuf is in though, so if you think he will steady the ship, best to trade out. I'll be hanging on a while, I think there'll be more wickets this afternoon.

WICKET 2.20 Pak 9-2
I Farhat c Prior b Anderson 6

2.15 Pak 9-1
The first wobble in Pakistan's house of cards. Yasir doesn't look like an opener but is having to do the job. By contrast, Trott looks every bit the potential opener for England but is being kept at three. England are now favourites at [1.96] and the draw is heading for odds against. If you laid at [1.74] worth hanging on to see if panic sets in. Broad and Anderson are getting plenty of bounce.

WICKET 2.13 Pak 9-1
Y Hameed c Swann b Broad 2

2.09 Pak 9-0
Weather update. Some ominous looking clouds are looming over Lord's.

2.06 Pak 8-0
Mahavir has been in touch via email asking what we think the Pakistan score will be. They have only passed 300 once this summer, but these are the best batting conditions they've yet faced and Lord's gets better and better to bat on. Get in touch and tell us what you think Pakistan will get

1.50 Eng 446 - all out
Good work from Pakistan and good for us because it moves the game on. Pakistan's price has come in a touch to [50.0] whilst the draw remains steady at [1.74]. So how will Pakistan bat? This is a very flat pitch and they should be able to get 400. Still, I reckon they still have one more big collapse in them and would be laying the draw at that price.

WICKET 1.48 Eng 446 - all out
J Trott c K Akmal b Wahab 184

WICKET 1.45 Eng 446-9
J Anderson c Hameed b Ajmal 6

1.40 Eng 445-8
Welcome back. Trott is going through his preparations, so could be a while before we get started. Will England push on and force the pace? Or will they dawdle while Trott slowly gets a double ton? Here's hoping it's the former.

Lunch. Eng 445-8
England's morning. They are [2.36] to force victory, with Pakistan into three figures at [100.0] and the draw steady at [1.74]. The game now hinges on how the tourists bat. The pitch is good, but there are one or two clouds gathering. Join me after lunch for what should be a fascinating session.

12.47 Eng 434-8
Broad finally goes after a remarkable innings. Has he earned a promotion up the order? The market hasn't reacted at all, Pakistan are on [80.0] but the draw is still too short at [1.72].

WICKET 12.42 Eng 434-8
S.Broad lbw b Ajmal 169

12.39 Eng 434-7
Lunch is on the horizon and the Pakistani fielders are temporarily a little more chatty. I think we've heard the first "shabash" of the day from Akmal, K. David Lloyd is back and spotting celebrities in the crowd. Look, there's Charlie Watts. Fascinating.

12.22 Eng 424-7
A new world record of 317 for the eighth wicket and Stuart Broad has beaten his Dad's best score. At the moment, looks like they can bat all day. England are [2.44] and frankly Pakistan looked like they gave up a long time ago, some Edwardian fielding out there.

12.06 Eng 400-7
Drinks break, 400 up and the draw down to [1.72] Too short, even on this pitch, with over half the game to go. If Pakistan have to bat a day to save the game, do you think they could do it? I'd be laying the draw at that price. The good news is that David Lloyd has left the commentary box. Anyone else finding him particularly irritating this morning?

11.54 Eng 385-7
A close up of the pitch showed no rough and no cracks, but Ajmal is just starting to get some joy with the doosra. And if he can land it in the trench that Trott has been scratching, anything could happen. Pakistan are up to [70.0] and England are on the drift at [2.56] but these two are so well set, there is no need to start throwing the bat.

11.34 Eng 370-7
Salman Butt is arranging his fielders in some pretty patterns, but it isn't immediately clear what he is trying to achieve. Perhaps he's told them to stand where they like, village cricket style. Pakistan supporters email me and let me know what you think of your captain. Is he the right man for the job?

11.19 Eng 361-7
Lots of shadows around this morning, fortunately the batsmen are soldiering on. Pakistan are flatter than a very flat thing and after just 15 minutes play are out to [42.0]. Still if you fancy their chances, now could be the time to strike.

11.05 Eng 347-7
150 for Jonathan Trott. Along with Tamim's entertaining turn earlier in the season, this has to be a contender for Test match innings of the summer. Just the one slip for Amir against Trott and the tourists already out to [22.0]

10.58 Eng 346-7
We're about to get under way. Glorious weather at Lord's and perfect for batting. Don't forget you can get in touch via email. Let me know what you think of the match so far and, if you saw it, how impressive was Ian Botham's suit. Pakistan out to [20.0] with the draw the inevitable favourite at [1.93]

10.50 Eng 346-7
Sir Ian Botham's pitch report is in. It's a good pitch. Thanks Sir Ian. Nice suit. Are Pakistan out of this game? They are [19.5] at the moment. Reverse swing and spin were their weapons at The Oval but this pitch isn't going to deteriorate and it isn't particularly dry so the ball will not be easy to rough up. Plus they're going to have to bat well. So yes is the answer.

10.33 Eng 346-7
Good morning all, I'll be taking you through the rest of the Test match summer, all three days of it. Betting guru Ed Hawkins was in good form yesterday, as eventually were England. The sun is out at Lord's and we all know what that means. Could be a frustrating day for bowlers.

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