Live Test Match Blogging / Andrew Hughes / 24 July 2011 / 2

Sunday will be all about quick runs as England set about digging a last-day trap for the tourists and India try to thwart them. Andrew Hughes will be on hand throughout with a laptop and a pot of Earl Grey.

CLOSE India 80-1
That's it for the day. England would have hoped for more than just the one wicket, but they still have a huge advantage going into the last day. India were criticised for not persisting with a run chase in the final Test in the West Indies, will they go for it tomorrow? Unlikely, but you never know. I'll be back at 10:30 tomorrow to see the climax of this gripping match

16:47 India 69-1
Glorious strokes from Laxman, creaming three boundaries in a row. There are few more attractive batsmen to watch than VVS. A little over ten minutes to go for England to get that second breakthrough.

16:30 India 47-1
Anderson is off and Swann has come on. The Indian batsmen are in no hurry, digging in for the close. Can England winkle out another before then?

16:01 India 24-1
It's tense stuff out there at the moment. If India can get through to the close without losing another wicket, that will be quite an achievement. Laxman isn't in the greatest of form but he's hanging in there. If you want to back the tourists, they are [85.0]

WICKET Mukund b Broad 12
Unlucky for Abhinav, playing on to a full one that swung back in down the hill. So who's coming in next? Gambhir isn't at the ground, Tendulkar can't back till five down. Looks like it's Laxman.

17:30 India 17-0
In fact, Gambhir is in hospital having X-rays so we may not even see him this evening. Mind you, these two aren't doing a bad job. England's field is a touch defensive, sure they could get an extra slip in there.

17:07 India 5-0
India are underway. Dravid doesn't like opening, but he's stepped up in his country's hour of need. Thirty overs to go tonight. If India finish 60-5 it's game over. On the other hand, if they get stuck in, they could find themselves 100-0 at the close. Should be fascinating.

16:58 England 269-6
A century for Prior and the declaration. India need a nearly impossible 458 to win and perhaps more significantly, will have to shuffle their batting order around. Gambhir can't open as he was off the field for a while and Tendulkar will have to bat at seven. England are [1.82] to win the match from this position

16:35 England 221-6
The lead is over 400 and the hundred partnership has been passed. All eyes on Andrew Strauss. When will the declaration come?

16:15 England 188-6
Just to confirm the situation with Tendulkar. He was off the field for 259 minutes and unless this England innings continues until tomorrow lunchtime, which it certainly won't, he will not be able to bat any higher than 7 in the Indian order

16:04 England 180-6
Sachin's on the field and Ishant has the ball. Why didn't he have it straight after lunch? We can expect some fireworks from Prior and Broad for the next hour or so. Interesting to look at the series win market where England are now as short as [1.56] That's mighty short considering we've three Tests to go.

TEA England 174-6
A nerve-steadying session for England and the next question is when the declaration will come. Plan A was probably to get an hour at India this evening and they are probably back on course for that. Back in 20 minutes

15:31 England 168-6
Prior has his fifty. It's been a typically busy half-century and it's probably put England into a safe position. Then again, this is just about the best batting line-up in the world. If any team can overhaul a bit total to win a Test, it's India

15:20 England 157-6
Ouch! Gambhir has taken a nasty blow on the elbow as Prior hammered it straight at him at forward short leg. I felt that. Another substitute required? India fast running out of players here and the England win now heading into odds on territory at [1.94]

15:05 England 143-6
Good news for Indian fans. Sachin is in the house. Worth remembering that even if he came on to the field now, he probably won't be able to bat when the time comes until 5 Indian wickets have fallen. They have to get him out there somehow.

14:45 England 118-6
Some determined looking play from Broad and Prior and England lead by 306. The match odds market has an England win just the favourite at [2.08] I reckon anything much over 350 will be hard for India to get without Sehwag and with Tendulkar apparently laid low by a virus.

WICKET Morgan c Gambhir b Sharma 19
Strange bit of messing about from Billy Bowden. Morgan chipped it to midwicket, was clearly out, but still referred to the third umpire. Horrible moment for the Indians, as we know what happens when catches are replayed on television. The lead is 295.

14:06 England 97-5
Morgan and Prior are chipping away and the lead is creeping up slowly, still only 285 though. What sort of total do England need to feel safe? Let me know at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk what kind of score you think India could chase successfully.

13:44 England 73-5
Welcome back. Suresh Raina has been given the ball after lunch, so Harbhajan can switch ends. Can this session possibly match the first for thrills?

LUNCH England 72-5
Aside from the dramatic last afternoon at Cardiff, that's the best session of Test cricket we've seen this summer and an illustration of the beauty of the five day game in that it allows room for such twists and turns. I'm off for a sandwich and a lie down. Join me in 40 minutes to find out what happens next

12:50 England 62-5
For the first time in the game, the draw price has moved upwards significantly and is now [2.82] India are [5.6] as short as they have been all match.

WICKET Trott b Sharma 22
Stumps everywhere! England 62-5. But it isn't a huge surprise. Over the last year or two, in between their successes, England have demonstrated the ability to implode. Headingley, Perth, Johannesburg, Kingston, the Oval. Could Lord's be added to that inglorious list?

WICKET Bell c Dhoni b Sharma 0
Wow. Ian Bell never looked remotely comfortable and has added his wicket to the pile. The Indians on the pitch and in the stands are jubilant. The game has taken an unexpected twist. The England lead is only 244.

WICKET Pietersen c Dhoni b Sharma
Nice bowling by Sharma. Pietersen was lunging forward as usual and Ishant does what fast bowlers are supposed to do and flings one in short that catches the batsman cold, takes the edge and flies through to the keeper. India are down to [20.0] They can't win this. Can they?

WICKET Strauss lbw Harbhajan 32
Strauss gets frustrated, tries to sweep a straightish one and it pings him in front of the stumps. Another good decision from the umpire. Who needs DRS? Applause for KP who might give this rather sluggish innings an injection of adrenalin

12:05 England 50-1
The mysterious non-spinning off spin of Harbhajan is not posing England any difficulties and in return, Trott and Strauss are thoughtfully not scoring too quickly. Proceedings are a touch soporific at the moment.

11:37 England 24-1
Cook has departed, but punters are undeterred and continue to lump on a home win, which is now down to [2.32]. Beautiful morning at Lord's. Is there a more pleasant place to watch cricket in the world? Get in touch at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk and let us know your favourite cricket venue

WICKET A Cook c Dhoni b Kumar 1
Alastair can't resist, has a little nibble and off he goes. The Indian fight back begins! Possibly.

11:15 England 18-0
Does anyone else think TMS gone downhill? A few too many ex-pros in there at the moment and it sounds like a direct feed from the England dressing room. If I hear about what 'the England boys' will be thinking one more time I may do something unpleasant to my radio. Thank goodness for Henry Blofeld and his pigeons.

11:00 England 5-0
Gentle stuff from Ishant so far. Two Indian substitutes on the field, including the portly Yuvraj who never appears the most eager of fielders. England have been backed down to [2.42] to win this game and the draw has crept up to [1.8] . Stalemate would be my choice at this stage.

10:47 England 5-0
Overnight news: Tendulkar has a viral infection, Zaheer still hasn't recovered from his hamstring strain and I think I slept on my arm last night because its really aching. Fortunately I can still lift my teacup so I think I'll be alright. As ever, you can get in touch at betfairliveblogger@hotmail.co.uk and let us know what you think about this Test match so far. Can England force the win? Are India overrated or undercooked? Is Ian Bell shrinking?

10:39 England 5-0
Morning all. Today's cricket should be like the penultimate episode in a quality thriller, setting up tomorrow's denoument when all the questions will be answered and the loose ends tied up. At least until England v India II which starts on Friday. The sun is shining, rain is but a distant memory and we will be underway in 20 minutes.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

(2)

1. Anonymous | 24 July 2011

   Come on at least get the odds correct. England currently around 1.82, not 1.56

2. Andrew Hughes | 24 July 2011

   Well spotted, that was 1.56 in the series win market as opposed to the match odds market.

:

:

:

?

: