England V Sri Lanka - The Decider

[Stumpy Tim]

England 108-1. Vaughan out for 18, Trescothick on fire!

 

[Gwylan]

108-2 now. Banger's out for 70.

Kirtley's still in the side, joined by Anderson.

Collingwood's been dropped, bit unlucky on him.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Should have dropped Batty. Even if Croft was brought in. Batty's been a passenger

 

[Reading Posh]

135-4

44.3 Vaas to Hussain, OUT: got'em! good length delivery pitched in line and straightened, Hussain moves forward and gets hit on the pad plumb in front of the stumps, huge appeal and the dreaded finger goes up, England in trouble!

 

[Reading Posh]

142-5

45.5 Muralitharan to Thorpe, OUT: got'em with the wrong one! flighted delivery, pitched in line with the off stump and this one turned into the left hander, Thorpe goes back to defend and gets hit on the pad plumb in front of the stumps

 

[Marshy]

Hussain is shite. Why oh Why do they continue to pick him

 

[Seagull over NZ]

Hussain is shite. Why oh Why do they continue to pick him

Cos hes been there, dunnit. Very strange to hear Botham give those reasons. Not one for living in the past I didn't think. He could yet prove us wrong in the 2nd innings but looks all over the place. I would have gone with Collingwood.

Are we finally going to see Flintoff stand up and be counted in the sub continent??

Batty is in as the 2nd choice spinner as much now as he is for his batting. They rate his batting and wioth playing one less batsman he becomes more vital. hence batting ahead of Read.

He and Freddie need to put on another 50 or so and then see if we can scrape our way to 275 which would be reasonable on this pitch I reckon.

 

[CHAPPERS]

I don't see why hussain in is the team although on this occasion he was VERY unlucky to be given out. Stepping across the wicket to a nothing ball from Vaas. I thought it was missing off stump and almost certainly hit him outside the line. Poor decision from Venkat.

197/5 now, steadied the ship a bit.

Flintoff 42*
Batty 13*

Still to come:

Read, Giles, Krtley, Anderson.

Could make 300?

 

[Marshy]

Still think 250 is more likely Chappers.

 

[CHAPPERS]

If Flintoff can stay in a while he'll score runs, that is the key to this innings now. We have Batty, Read and Giles who can all stick around and as long as Flintoff doesn't do anything stoopid and just hits the bad balls then he'll do well.



*braces himself for Flintoff to throw his wicket away*


199/5 now with 1 over gone after tea.

 

[Reading Posh]

203-5 Flintoff 47*

 

[CHAPPERS]

10 off 4 balls of the 71st over for Freddy as he passes 50

Flintoff 53*
Batty 14*

 

[Reading Posh]

209-5 a four and a SIX sees Freddie to 53*

 

[CHAPPERS]

14 runs off that over for Freddy.

 

[Beeneys gloves]

Freddie on fire now, Batty faced more balls than him but playing equally as an important innings, need at least 300 after winning toss

 

[CHAPPERS]

Batty goes for 14, 226/6. Let's hope we can hold it together.

 

[Reading Posh]

76.5 Chandana to Batty, OUT: Short on the off, Batty tries to pull it on the on side but doesnt connect well and ends up in a easy catch to Atapattu at mid on

Batty 14

 

[Beeneys gloves]

Shame after defending so long, he pulls a long hop, up to read to carry it on now, 12 overs left, theyv both got to be there at the end!

 

[CHAPPERS]

Shit.

Freddy is gone.

236/7.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Murali (Chucker) 36 overs 20 maidens 37 runs 3 wickets

the git