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?

[alfie]

Now hits Kallis ...but outside off ...darn good over though

[Mike Selig]

One wicket could bring a cluster here. But England do need that one.

[Mike Selig]

England not having the rub of the green right now. That could change.

[mystiroakey]

arr ffs- finn and swan are all over them.. saffas riding there luck

[Duty281]

Keep going England, 1 wicket could change the game and the series.

[alfie]

Suddenly Amla looking anything but secure...but he is still there.

This match just keeps on proving Test Cricket is the ultimate...surely we are going to have a great finish rather than a fizzle out ?

Swann with two in the leg trap now...

[eirebilly]

Whats the record chase at lords?

[alfie]

Yes I fancy one wicket could well see them five down tonight...but getting that one wicket is proving very difficult. Batsmen playing with skill and luck - a tough combination to beat

[Duty281]

10 overs to go. One ball, one good ball is all England need to bring about a possible collapse.

[Biltong]

Highest run chase at Lords is 344/1
Second highest run chase 288/3
Third highest run chase 218/3

[eirebilly]

Good man biltong, at this rate England may be facing a record chase.

[Duty281]

Highest run chase at Lords is 344/1
Second highest run chase 288/3
Third highest run chase 218/3

And it's worth noting that Australia made 406 all out at this ground in 2009 in the 4th innings.

[alfie]

If we continue to assume 300 is chaseable (though we are seeing some balls keeping rather low ) , then England are far from out of this yet.

However if SA get through tonight with these two still in occupation it is going to be an uphill struggle...

Another lbw shout but clearly too high...glad they didn't listen to Trott

[KP_fan]

that one from Swann....shot on the ground...and with luck going SA way didn't even find the batsman in front of the wicket.

and this after one from Swann had spun and jumped to Smith.

Not a good sign for England......they will facing the "bat last factor"....which from the way game stands will be no less than 4 sessions ( in eitehr of the scenario whether SA declares or bowled out).

such an up and down behaviour of the pitch might take out any cahnces of draw..
surprisingly bet365 still are giving draw a 3 times return compared to 2 for SA win and 4.5 for Eng win...hmmm

[Mike Selig]

England need to keep going. Finn's bowling a nice spell, Swann's looking dangerous.

[Duty281]

1 wicket brings the nightwatchman out. Get the nightwatchman out and suddenly the score looks so much better for England.

[Biltong]

I think we need to get at least 360 To do that we need to bat untill tea tomorrow, leving England 120 overs to chase.

[GSC]

Vaughan thinks 300 is gettable, 330 game over.

[Mike Selig]

Should Swann try from around the wicket for a couple of overs? Just to change things up a bit? Seems like England are almost waiting for things to change, should they be trying to force the issue a bit more in this last half-hour?

[Duty281]

Vaughan thinks 300 is gettable, 330 game over.

I'd agree with him. If you get in on this flattish pitch, you should be able to make big runs.

[msp83]

Kallis given out, he's reviewing it.

[liverbnz]

Get in!

[Duty281]

Finn's got a wicket! But Kallis reviews immediately...no bat. Too high? Nope. HE'S OUT!

[alfie]

Close ...but out

[eirebilly]

Not out i feel.

But he is given... Breakthrough

[Mike Selig]

Given! Well bowled Finn, good decision M. Taufel, poor reaction again from Kallis who clipped his pad on the way through but missed the ball.

That's the wicket England needed and to be honest have richly deserved this last half-hour.

One more before close and it really is game on.

[msp83]

2 sounds, but seemed it hit both his pads. The umpire's call stays, and Kallis has to go. He wasn't happy, he thought he nicked it.

[Duty281]

Dale Steyn comes out to bat as nightwatchman, Finn might have five balls at him...

[Mike Selig]

I think Finn may give Steyn a couple of short ones, repay the favour.

A couple, but attack the stumps a bit as well, I say.

[msp83]

Kallis had every right to react the way he did in the first innings, it was a horendous stupid call from the 3rd umpire, but this, I think he didn't hit it, it was his bat hitting the pad and the ball hitting both pads.

[alfie]

Vaughan thinks 300 is gettable, 330 game over.

I'd agree with him. If you get in on this flattish pitch, you should be able to make big runs.

Maybe . Oddly though , three days in and only one man has passed 61 ...

[msp83]

Don't think Steyn's going to last the day. Finn is giving him a real work over.

[Duty281]

Kallis had every right to react the way he did in the first innings, it was a horendous stupid call from the 3rd umpire, but this, I think he didn't hit it, it was his bat hitting the pad and the ball hitting both pads.

I thought he was out in the first innings TBH.

[Duty281]

5 overs or 11 minutes to go in the day. 1 more wicket and England are on top.

[Mike Selig]

Kallis had every right to react the way he did in the first innings, it was a horendous stupid call from the 3rd umpire, but this, I think he didn't hit it, it was his bat hitting the pad and the ball hitting both pads.

No he didn't, no matter what he made of the decision. It's called dissent, and it's not cool.

[msp83]

Finn's pace up into the 90s!.

[Mike Selig]

Swann and Finn have really put England back in this, after a loose spell from Anderson.

[msp83]

Kallis had every right to react the way he did in the first innings, it was a horendous stupid call from the 3rd umpire, but this, I think he didn't hit it, it was his bat hitting the pad and the ball hitting both pads.

No he didn't, no matter what he made of the decision. It's called dissent, and it's not cool.

.
Umpires are human and they can make mistake particularly when doing onfield duty, but the third umpire had access to technology, and it was very clear that Kallis wasn't out. then when the entire world could see you wern't out and on review and the umpire makes such an idiotic call, being a human being most would have reacted.

[alfie]

Get Amla tonight and a few SA batsmen wouldn't sleep so well ...won't get him with that rubbish ! Swann an uncharacteristically bad ball gifting a four...

Come on Finny one more tonight ...

[Duty281]

Kallis had every right to react the way he did in the first innings, it was a horendous stupid call from the 3rd umpire, but this, I think he didn't hit it, it was his bat hitting the pad and the ball hitting both pads.

No he didn't, no matter what he made of the decision. It's called dissent, and it's not cool.

.
Umpires are human and they can make mistake particularly when doing onfield duty, but the third umpire had access to technology, and it was very clear that Kallis wasn't out. then when the entire world could see you wern't out and on review and the umpire makes such an idiotic call, being a human being most would have reacted.

It wasn't an idiotic call, it was a correct call.

[eirebilly]

msp83, normally you are a very fair and good poster but you seem suprisingly against England this test. Whats up mate?

[msp83]

Steyn trying to see to it that this would be the last over.

[alfie]

Steyn cops one on the hand from Finn ...which will actually rather suit him as it should cut out an over or so ...fast bowlers rather battering each other today

[msp83]

Kallis had every right to react the way he did in the first innings, it was a horendous stupid call from the 3rd umpire, but this, I think he didn't hit it, it was his bat hitting the pad and the ball hitting both pads.

No he didn't, no matter what he made of the decision. It's called dissent, and it's not cool.

.
Umpires are human and they can make mistake particularly when doing onfield duty, but the third umpire had access to technology, and it was very clear that Kallis wasn't out. then when the entire world could see you wern't out and on review and the umpire makes such an idiotic call, being a human being most would have reacted.

It wasn't an idiotic call, it was a correct call.

Not according to the laws of the game of cricket.

[Duty281]

One more over to go. Come on Broady!

[Mike Selig]

Steyn does well though.

Great spell from Finn that.

Sorry msp we're not going to agree, dissent for me can never be acceptable, no matter how bad the mess-up; and frankly I don't think Kallis would have known his hand was (marginally) off the bat anyway. It wasn't as clear-cut as you make it out.

[msp83]

50 for Hashim Amla.

[Duty281]

Kallis had every right to react the way he did in the first innings, it was a horendous stupid call from the 3rd umpire, but this, I think he didn't hit it, it was his bat hitting the pad and the ball hitting both pads.

No he didn't, no matter what he made of the decision. It's called dissent, and it's not cool.

.
Umpires are human and they can make mistake particularly when doing onfield duty, but the third umpire had access to technology, and it was very clear that Kallis wasn't out. then when the entire world could see you wern't out and on review and the umpire makes such an idiotic call, being a human being most would have reacted.

It wasn't an idiotic call, it was a correct call.

Not according to the laws of the game of cricket.

Right hand marginally on the bat, and a tiny nick verified by sound, hotspot and snicko = out.

[eirebilly]

In the first innings i first thought that Kallis was not out but i can see the reason why he was adjugded out. Close call but it happens.

[alfie]

So SA lead by 140 , two days to go...I think I'd rather be in their shoes , but the game is a long way from over. They have a lot to thank Amla for this position.
England need to get a few wickets tomorrow morning somehow , as that new ball is still thirty overs away.

Not making any predictions.

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