Third Test England v South Africa, The Oval, July 27-31

[knocky1]

F*** Sky and BT denying me the cricket for the rest of the day.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Westley reaches 50. Just what England requires at No. 3.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Sky said the highest 4th innings score at The Oval is 429. So it's a no-brainer to declare with a lead of 430. 99 runs to go.

Get them in 10 mins before tea.

 

[BensGrandad]

Not sure it's possible to have too many G&Ts.

We're in danger of a one off full on love in here BG: while Dazzer found that your post said you'd go for it until lunch time, and then your post also said 'that's it for today no more play', I've noticed that you edited your post 15 minutes after making it - maybe you did think we'd have another hour when you made the post, before realising the whole day was going to be rained off

That was it the edit was about 5.45 ish

 

[dazzer6666]

Sky said the highest 4th innings score at The Oval is 429. So it's a no-brainer to declare with a lead of 430. 99 runs to go.

Get them in 10 mins before tea.

Good estimate of where we'll be at that point....don't need to speed up much to get another 100 between lunch and tea to put us about 430 ahead. In all likelihood will then have a quick dart after tea to try and add another 50 or so quickly, then stick them in for the long evening session.

 

[Titanic]

Lunch, Day Four

England 153-2 (51 overs), leading by 331 with 69 overs remaining today.

Westley 50* Root 38*

30 overs this evening and 98 tomorrow should be enough... lead should be about 475.

 

[jakarta]

Once they are settled after Lunch and given the next batsmen up include Bairstow, Stokes and Ali then surely it will be tee-off time for this pair, get another 100-120 and declare before Tea to give the Saffers a hectic15-20 minute session. EDIT: Boycott thinks so as well...

 

[pasty]

Pop quiz (and I don't know the answer by the way)

When was the last time, if ever, a debut batsman made 50 and a debut bowler took a 5-fer in the same match?

 

[Billy the Fish]

It will be interesting if they do try and up the run rate, to see how quickly wickets start to fall. I suspect that it's actually not that easy to score quick runs given how slow the outfield is.

Westley has has played very patiently for his 50 because he's had to. There's still something there for the bowlers which is good for us, there's time in the game and the worst thing they could do is is come out swinging after lunch and lose a few wickets because that really will slow the run rate.

 

[Mackenzie]

Have a slog for a couple of hours, get 450ish in front then put them in half an hour before tea would be the order of the day wouldn't it?

 

[BensGrandad]

Was Westley trying to up the run rate when he got stumped.

 

[dazzer6666]

Have a slog for a couple of hours, get 450ish in front then put them in half an hour before tea would be the order of the day wouldn't it?

Little bit after tea I'd think. Evening session will be long. Difficult to score really quickly with test bowling/field settings

 

[jakarta]

Well done to Malan, Bairstow and Stokes now at the Crease...

 

[BensGrandad]

Well done to Malan, Bairstow and Stokes now at the Crease...

A quick 50 partnership from these 2 would do us well.

 

[jakarta]

Last 10 overs Run Rate of 6 per over, middle order best part of the England setup at present. 420 lead, declaration must be coming soon?

 

[BensGrandad]

I think that Root will want a 450 target so possibly declare when the next wicket goes or soon after.

 

[BensGrandad]

My fault Stokes went but no worries now a mad rush for 450 lead from the tail.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Come on Root be positive.

 

[Billy the Fish]

No point in declaring now as they'll just take an early tea. Might as well bat until tea.

 

[BensGrandad]

The few extra runs up until tea may prove vital but hopefully not. Perhaps time to throw the bat and see what happens.

Let Bairstow get his 50 or lose his wicket before declaring a few minutes wont make a great difference.