England v South Africa, Lords, 3rd Test Thread

[Duty281]

First topic message reminder :

The equation is simple. If England win, they remain number 1. If South Africa avoid defeat, they move up to number 1 and will officially be the best Test team in the World.

England: 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ian Bell, 5 James Taylor, 6 Jonny Bairstow, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn

South Africa: 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 Jacques Rudolph, 7 JP Duminy, 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir

Are you ready?

[Mike Selig]

Ooooh close! Good decision not to review that (and it turns out good decision by Taufel not to give it).

[Mad for Chelsea]

thought that one would be "umpire's call" on height, but turned out it was just missing the stumps: excellent decision by Mr Taufel.

On the Smith one, would Smith have known he hit it? He fairly smashed the ground at the same time...

[skyeman]

England bowling well and troubling the batsmen,

Finn replacing Anderson.

[Mike Selig]

Finn on as soon as Amla in to bat. Do I sense a plan? Or are England just rotating their bowlers?

[Fists of Fury]

MFC, how was China mate?

Re: Smith, perhaps not, though you usually do know, or have a pretty good idea anyway.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Hey Fists, China was fantastic! thanks for asking, I'll do a quick write-up in the travel section quite soon.

Re: Smith, I do remember once being given out caught behind when I thought I'd hit the ground and nothing else, but my partner said I'd hit it, so it does happen. England bowling pretty well here, Finn with a decent start, Petersen looking a bit wobbly but he seems to have the ability to miss the ball instead of nicking it

[Biltong]

MFC, how was China mate?

Re: Smith, perhaps not, though you usually do know, or have a pretty good idea anyway.

Be nice to Smith, he is out.

[Fists of Fury]

Petersen ain't good enough to nick it, that's why!

Great stuff mate, looking forward to hearing from you in the travel section.

[Mad for Chelsea]

England waste a review, but Finn is causing Petersen some bother out there...

[Mike Selig]

don't think that was missing by that much? Strange hawk-eye again.

Still enough doubt on height so no issues with original call. Can see why England were excited by it, but fairly poor review that one.

[Duty281]

England have started well, the ball is swinging and the formidable Smith is out. Need another couple before lunch though.

[liverbnz]

As the commentators always say, above the knee roll and your chances are slim, especially with Finn.

[ShankyCricket]

The team is looking very "united".

[Fists of Fury]

Such utter crap that isn't it, Shanky?

They also looked rather united when they ran through SA on the final day at Headingley.

[skyeman]

Just passing the edge time and time again

[liverbnz]

Good grief, will someone just nick one!

[ShankyCricket]

Such utter crap that isn't it, Shanky?

They also looked rather united when they ran through SA on the final day at Headingley.

Exactly...

Well, lets see how many runs this "united" team scores. I'd wager it'd be less than what the "disrupted" and "untenable" team scored at Headingely.

[ShankyCricket]

Yes Finny

[skyeman]

yessssssssssssssssss

[Mike Selig]

At last. Finn gets one to rear up and Pietersen gloves it down the leg-side to Prior.

Richly richly deserved wicket for England, they've bowled very well this morning with little luck so far.

One more before lunch (either Kallis or Amal, not too fussed really) and it's game on...

[JDizzle]

Alviro out!

Right, big Jaques in now. Let's not mess about, get Finn to give him the Freddie treatment! Yorker/Bouncer and test him out early!

[Duty281]

Good lad Finny! 49/2, both openers gone. 1 brings 2 so let's get another!

[skyeman]

One more before lunch, comeeeeeeeee on.

[Mad for Chelsea]

Petersen gone gloving one down the leg side, England deserve that!

[JDizzle]

Play that Amla! Game on!

[Mike Selig]

Gottimmmmm!

Finn knocks over Amla with the surprise fuller delivery, 50/3. Now then.

[skyeman]

OMGGGGGGGG FINNYYYYYYYY

[Duty281]

Yesssssssss! Oh Finny we love you! 50/3! En-ger-land!

[Fists of Fury]

Fantastic stuff!!! This is why Finn should have been preferred to Bresnan at the start of this series. He can be dodgy, but he gets wickets.

[skyeman]

long way to go England cannnnnn do it.

[Mad for Chelsea]

terrific ball from Finn to get rid of Amla, SA 50-3, now then...

[skyeman]

Raining at the oval

[Mike Selig]

1 more before lunch would really put the pressure on.

This is a big partnership in the context of the match and series.

[skyeman]

1 more before lunch would really put the pressure on.

This is a big partnership in the context of the match and series.

Absolutely

[Duty281]

Kallis is the key wicket. Get him out early and we may get the Saffers out for under 250.

[GSC]

This is the problem with KP, gets in then gloves one down the legside.

Capable of brilliance on his day, but needs to dig in more.

[Biltong]

Ohh, we are in a spot of bother here, aren't we.

Fists must be eating a his hat again.

[liverbnz]

Please...

[GSC]

I once knew a man named steven Finnegan

[skyeman]

huge moment.

[liverbnz]

Hand off the bat

[Duty281]

Praying, praying.....pleaseee umpire. YES! He's given him out! Wicket number 4!

[Mike Selig]

Given him? Agree with liver, hand clearly off the bat (although ball clearly hit glove, so Kallis's reaction a bit dodgy).

[skyeman]

omgggggggg

[Mad for Chelsea]

given out! Holding doesn't like it one bit! Hand off the bat, just on? Hard to tell, it certainly hit the glove but I think Kallis is a bit unlucky here.

Still, England bang on top, 54-4, Finn has three!

[JDizzle]

Not sure I agree with that... But I'll take it! Come on Finny!

[liverbnz]

Oh dear, controversial. Very, very poor decision.

[VTR]

Hand off the bat

Well we've seen those given before

[JDizzle]

Rudolph in! Get KP on now... Oh hang on a sec...

[skyeman]

Sorry but i don't think that was out.

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