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51st over: Pakistan 168-3 (Shakeel 62, Rizwan 42) target 343 Leach replaces Jacks hoping for a breakthrough, and almost gets it! Rizwan charges and flicks the ball just over the desperate Will Jacks at extra cover. No matter, the next delivery rises loftily for six. And the last cut from the wily and light, Rizwan for four more.
50th over: Pakistan 156-3 (Shakeel 62, Rizwan 30) target 343 An inside edge lifts off Shakeel’s bat on the pad and takes a cozy loop in the air, but there is no fielder waiting. Anderson walks away.
49th over: Pakistan 155-3 (Shakeel 62, Rizwan 29) target 343 Jacks replaces Root, and a couple of leg byes bring Pakistan up to 150. Then Shakeel sweeps from outside leg and the ball flies on the lawn for four. Pakistan is a few fingers away from lunch.
48th over: Pakistan 149-3 (Shakeel 58, Rizwan 29) target 343 Jimmy comes back with the ball he doesn’t like in hand. The dog turns over on the sofa and sticks all four paws in the air, like the red fortune teller fish you find on Christmas cookies. Rizwan plays a maiden, though he takes an awkward last-ball jab.
47th over: Pakistan 149-3 (Shakeel 58, Rizwan 29) target 343 Rizwan takes a run around the corner from Root. And another, as commentators discuss how pitches don’t break on the fifth day in Pakistan like they do in other parts of Asia, and so this spin isn’t as effective.
Good news from Alistair Connor. “A pretty rosy dawn has appeared in a clear sky in Lyon, it can’t be far from Manchester.
“I’m on the 7am shift this week, I’d like the cricket to last until Friday.”
46th over: Pakistan 147-3 (Shakeel 56, Rizwan 28) target 343 Pakistan pick up three runs, relatively easy pickings from Leach at this point. The camera pans across the floor, where the stands fill up.
45th over: Pakistan 144-3 (Shakeel 55, Rizwan 27) target 343 A first-ball dolly from Root is swept by Shakeel to the rope, followed by a single with an outside edge. The crowd is waking up as the game comes to life.
44th over: Pakistan 139-3 (Shakeel 50, Rizwan 27) target 343 Pakistan’s batsmen take off their gloves and wipe the sweat from their hands as the players take a drink break. A maiden from Leach, I wonder if it might be time for the captain to try a few overs.
43rd over: Pakistan 139-3 (Shakeel 50, Rizwan 27) target 343 A sweep from Rizwan brings up the fifty partners.
Fifty for Saud Shakeel!
42nd over: Pakistan 138-3 (Shakeel 50, Rizwan 26) target 343 With a quick step into the pitch and a long way off, Saud Shakeel reaches his fifty on debut. Leach spins.
Updated at 06.29 GMT
41st over: Pakistan 132-3 (Shakeel 44, Rizwan 26) target 343 A flirt with Joe Root, Rizwan sweeps a bad ball down leg for four. Express is gaining momentum.
40th over: Pakistan 127-3 (Shakeel 43, Rizwan 22) target 343 Shakeel dances down and punches Leach straight for four.
“Good morning Tanya,” I’ve been waiting for John Starbuck.
Looks like Dawn must be stuck in Pakistan as no appearances so far in GB. He usually takes a turn though.”
An hour or so? Still very black in Manchester.
39th over: Pakistan 122-3 (Shakeel 38, Rizwan 22) target 343 A long delay as the ball is changed. James Anderson immediately turns up his nose after seeing the new pill. Stokes pleads with the umpire on Anderson’s behalf, but to no avail. Jacks on and Rizwan takes a hit, and is hit on the next ball which goes for the big one. I feel like Rizwan’s ego can get the better of him against Jacks, oh but here we go, he finishes and pings him for six.
38th over: Pakistan 115-3 (Shakeel 37, Rizwan 16) target 343 Pakistan are back in the shell, a Leach maiden.
“On an early morning ferry between the two Danish islands of Lolland and Langeland…in a rather rough sea…” Richard Naylor, you have my sympathies. What time is dawn?
“Could I get you to decode the picture of 32? What does that pitch configuration say about what the bowler is likely to bowl and what they expect the batsman to bowl?”
Field placements are not my specialty, but I think they were hoping to induce momentum.
Updated at 0612 GMT
37th over: Pakistan 115-3 (Shakeel 37, Rizwan 16) target 343 Pakistan suddenly go for singles and look for gaps. A good shot from Shakeel brings a couple off the last ball of Jacks over.
36th over: Pakistan 111-3 (Shakeel 34, Rizwan 15) target 343 Leach, a beauty passes the bat, before Rizwan comes in at long-on, spinning it through the covers. A piece of wide field on the rope cuts another boundary.
35th over: Pakistan 104-3 (Shakeel 33, Rizwan 9) target 343 Rizwan’s previous record for being dismissed for 0 was off 13 balls. And finally, on his 24th ball, he’s off the mark with an ugly sweep for four to Will Jacks, and then strides down the pitch and screams the ball over the midwicket. He goes for the third boundary in a row, a sweep but gets into a hyperactive mess. A captain’s whisper must have been served with the drinks.
Good morning Becky Chantry!
“My first thing in the morning is that I wish I was still in Cyprus drinking champagne instead of getting ready to go back to work!
“It’s a positive start for England this morning with Anderson (as always) and Robinson keeping it tight. With the new way England are approaching Test cricket, I think I’ll almost be more surprised if Rehan Ahmed doesn’t make his debut in the next test.”
It definitely has that vibe to it, although I guess Ben Foakes will be back to take Pope’s gloves, so maybe England will rely on Root’s twirlers to go alongside Jacks.
34th over: Pakistan 93-3 (Shakeel 31, Rizwan 0) target 343 Pakistan have dismissed Anderson for now as Leach takes his turn. Rizwan dives to cut but it’s 0, off 23. A maiden and we have DRINKS.
33rd over: Pakistan 93-3 (Shakeel 31, Rizwan 0) target 343 A huge lbw shout from Robinson to Rizwan, who is hit on the backside. He goes off with a leg as the English brains consult the confidence. Robinson wants the review, but Pope reckons it’s on the leg; he is right
Sky shows the World Test Championship table, where England, incredibly, languish in seventh place, Pakistan in fifth and Australia stretched out on top.
32nd over: Pakistan 92-3 (Shakeel 31, Rizwan 0) target 343 From slip, Root works the ball, carefully, carefully, like a father wiping a baby’s milky mouth. Anderson doing what Anderson does: 8-4-9-1,
If you’re in the mood, send me your Monday morning thoughts.
31st over: Pakistan 92-3 (Shakeel 31, Rizwan 0) target 343 England crowding Shakeel for the ball, four caught outside off. And he does, picked up by Jack Leach. Rizwan is 0 off 12 balls. And, phew! Shakeel pushes with concrete boots and an edge flies over Crawley and Gully. That’s great for Robinson.
“Very relieved to see that in these changing times you can still enjoy a morning cuppa without being forced to promote the brand, unlike a certain ex-Sky commentator who is reduced to an incongruous shilling for the broadcaster local…” However, Brian, he does. Soo good…
Brian
30th over: Pakistan 91-3 (Shakeel 30, Rizwan 0) target 343 A run! Nothing, just a dart and a quick single that beats Keaton Jennings’ pitch to home.
“Morning Tanya, morning all (UK time)” Great to hear from you Em Jackson!
“When you’ve just started work and there’s still Day 5 cricket – luckily because of the time zones, I’ll admit – it’s a great way to start the day, coffee in hand and bagel in the toaster.
“As for cricket, for my 2 Pakistani rupees, his 2 wickets and a collapse against Pakistan getting the runs they needed. . . . – but I have been wrong, very wrong.
“Also, thanks to you and the team for text commentary along with TMS, it’s been an enjoyable weekend.”
A pleasure!
29th over: Pakistan 90-3 (Shakeel 29, Rizwan 0) target 343 Stokes takes three near-off catches, waiting for Rizwan’s extravaganza. He resists.
28th over: Pakistan 90-3 (Shakeel 29, Rizwan 0) target 343 Pakistan have stalled here after Imam’s departure and in the face of impeccable bowling. Will it reach them? Anderson keeps poking and probing.
One question: Is chai the favorite morning drink in Pakistan?
27 over: Pakistan 90-3 (Shakeel 29, Rizwan 0) target 343 Rizwan does a bit of gardening and flattens an invisible blade or two of grass, and I’m briefly lost in the pleasure of drinking my tea. A quick pull gets Shakeel running.
26 overs: Pakistan 89-3 (Shakeel 28, Rizwan 0) target 343 In the shadow of the Pakistan balcony, Azhar Ali collects his bat, but it is Rizwan who appears on the field. Another maiden, and the important wicket of Imam ul Haq, serial collector of second innings runs.
Drop an email. Good morning Brian Withington!
“Sad news for Liam Livingstone to come home, but perhaps not too surprising given the way he limped to the crease yesterday. Let’s hope it’s nothing too serious.”
Yes, very unlucky, poor thing. I wonder if England will play Rehan Ahmed in his absence.
WICKET! Imam caught Pope b Anderson 48 (Pakistan 89-3)
A great catch from Pope, which fell to his right, as Imam turns the edges of the ends down the leg side. The imam takes off his helmet and leaves.
25th over: Pakistan 89-2 (Shakeel 28, Imam ul Haq 48) target 343 Another maiden, another Test from Robinson as Jacks warms up in the deep.
Phil Morton asks about the TMS overseas link. I’m afraid there isn’t one for this Test Phil as the overseas link only seems to work from the UK. A foreign OBOer was following through the Pakistan website here if it works for you.
24th over: Pakistan 89-2 (Shakeel 28, Imam ul Haq 48) target 343 A morning maiden from Jimmy.
Liam Livingstone is flying home
Confirmation that…