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Tea break: Pakistan 350–8
142nd over: Pakistan 350-8 (Azhar Ali 146) Re Brown Cows, Selve writes: "Not in our house it wasn't." Take that John Wilson and your ice cream. That's tea, then with Ajmal's dismissal. No, Smyth, so I'm going to leave you for a break. You'll get a substitute OBOer for a short spell.
WICKET!! Saeed Ajmal c Anderson b Swann 1 Brilliant catch as Ajmal was trying to steer it wide of first slip and Anderson moved very quickly in anticipation of where the ball was going and sanffled it.
141st over: Pakistan 348-7 (Azhar Ali 146, Saeed Ajmal 0) "C'mon Panny. Big energy, bud." Prior's encouragement gets stranger. He then shouts: "On the rocks, as you like it." Ajmal tries a massive slog sweep, just misses it and they run a bye when the ball canons off Prior's gloves. "NOW do you see the value of sticking around and accumulating seeing as we're we're barely over half way through allotted time? It's by no means certain that Pak will win. Seems to me that people who watch too much short form cricket have forgotten what Tests are all about." Sunil is sticking to his line. But what if they'd looked to score more heavily earlier. And I think it is certain that Paksitan will win. I'd even put Geoffrey Boycott's three houses on it.
140th over: Pakistan 345-7 (Azhar Ali 145, Saeed Ajmal 0) There was a big puff of dust when the ball pitched for Rehman's dismissal. Swann gives Ajmal the slider first up and the batsman squeezes it into the ground. He then follows it up with two lovely floated off-spinners that Ajmal prods back. "Brown Cow was Coke and ice cream," writes JohN Wilson. "Forward defensives probably more attractive if England can play them successfully. Could watch 'em for two days."
WICKET!! Rehman c Anderson b Swann 1 Well, it's going to be pretty tough for the left-handers on that showing. Swann finds the devil in the pitch, the ball leaps and turns and Rehman glances it to first slip.
139th over: Pakistan 345-6 (Azhar Ali 145, Rehman 1) With Rehman coming in we have a chance to see what's in store for the left-handers later. Monty can't find the rough so far but Rehman takes a single off the last ball so Swann will have a chance.
Wicket!! Akmal b Panesar 0 A fourth wicket for Monty, drifts in from around the wicket towards off and middle, bounces, spins and clips the top of off, missing Akmal's bat by a good three inches.
138th over: Pakistan 344-5 (Azhar Ali 144, Adnan Akmal 0) Swann takes over from Broad and Azhar has a dart at his third ball, which is wide of odd-stump. He doesn't middle it but spoons it past where a straight mid-off would have been.
137th over: Pakistan 339-5 (Azhar Ali 139, Adnan Akmal 0) "Presumably Prior is referring to Monty as they play for Sussex Sharks," writes Ken Danbury. Thanks Ken. "Odd though. Much as I admire the Pakistan stoic defence I have to agree with your father. The forward defensive loses its allure when it is the only shot on display." They've scored only forty-odd runs so far this session for the loss of two wickets. And that was a superb over from Monty and his nagging line.
WICKET!! Asad Shafiq lbw Panesar 5 He fell over, playing the sweep and was given out with the ball striking his back leg. Neither side has any reviews left so even though he wanted to DRS it he couldn't. It looked tight but I think trapped him in front of leg stump.
136th over: Pakistan 339-4 (Azhar Ali 139 Asad Shafiq 5) "Coke and milk was called a brown cow I seem to remember," writes Selve. It went in brown but came out technicolor, Mike. England station a ring to keep Asad on strike for Broad's over. The ball is getting softer and though Broad was still getting orthodox swing a few overs ago, it has been missing for the past few deliveries. No sign of reverse yet. Broad pitches one up that Asad flicks uppishly to square leg with a roll of the wrist. He was never in control of that shot. Broad deserves a couple more overs at the new batsman.
135th over: Pakistan 336-4 (Azhar Ali 139 Asad Shafiq 2) Big appeal from Monty for lbw when Azhar goes for his scoop and misses. It hit him outside the line of off-stump, but would have hit the timbers. Good call from Simon Taufel. Monty then sees Azhar coming down the track so cleverly bowls a quicker one to keep him in his crease.
134th over: Pakistan 336-4 (Azhar Ali 139 Asad Shafiq 2) This has been a magnificent innings from Azhar but I'm starting to wonder whether it's an age thing with me. In my youth I used to cherish obduracy, wanting the match to last as long as possible and get a genuine thrill from the temperament shown to bat and bat. Towards the end of his life, my father, who was a great fan of the game, grew impatient with batsmen fannying about and used to get irked by a lack of attacking intent. I wonder if the older you get, the more you want the scoreboard to rattle along. Good over from Broad, in similar vein to his bowling in the match.
133rd over: Pakistan 335-4 (Azhar Ali 138 Asad Shafiq 2) They offer Azhar a single by setting the field deep and he takes it off the first ball. They bring in the field for the new batsman and Asad misreads his first ball, playing outside the line but gets two when it squirms off the inside edge to fine leg. If my ears do not deceive me, Matt Prior has just shouted "Great work, the Shark". Who is the Shark?
132nd over: Pakistan 332-4 (Azhar Ali 137 Asad Shafiq 0) The lead is 289 at the start of Broad's over, following what Sunil calls "The Monterminator" effect. He's continuing to attempt to make Azhar feather a catch to slips with his outswingers but a couple don't swing and Azhar fends one into the leg-side and the last ball into the covers to take a single off the over.
131st over: Pakistan 331-4 (Azhar Ali 136 Asad Shafiq 0) After a short break for drinks, we have this from Sunil, in response to an earlier post: "Paul Taylor seems to think the US is monolithic. Some parts have only vestigial seasons. Desert South West switches from hot to hotter and back. Maine has some variety in its two seasons of permafrost and mud." Bumble's back in the box. Hurrah. I may have dredged this from a fantasy past but I'm sure when he was capatin of Lancashire he once said after a Sunday League match ina bout 1978 that one of the secrets to the team's success was their special cocktail that mixed Coke and milk, like a wholly liquid Wimpy float. I decided to try it for myself with projectile vomit consequences. Monty gets his man with a ball that arrows in to Misbah's pads and though the captain reviewed it, believeing he had hit it first, it looked on replay as though it just, just, hit the pad first. Asad Shafiq comes out to bat in a cap.
Wicket!! Misbah lbw Panesar 31 The captain thought he'd hit it first but it was pad before bat and though Simon Taufel's decision was not straightforward but of the umpire's call variety, it would have shaved the bails so the original decision was upheld.
Pakistan review!! Misbah lbw b Panesar OUT!
130th over: Pakistan 331-3 (Azhar Ali 136 Misbah 31) Isolated shouts of "Yes, Broady" from the crowd as the bowler gets another to swing away from the bat. He's bowling with real skill, intelligence and effort but the batsmen have their eyes in now and it will take something special, or silly, to dislodge them.
129th over: Pakistan 330-3 (Azhar Ali 136 Misbah 30) Answer came from the BLF on the query regarding the Virgin operator: "Since you ask while the Beard Liberation Front welcomes supporters 'unlimited' Richard Branson is in fact excluded for various offences against the hirsute. The matter will be reviewed at Easter …" Glorious shot from Azhar to finish the over, gliding down the pitch to smack Swann for four to the long-off boundary. He's coming out of his shell, slowly, as is his wont, but surely.
128th over: Pakistan 326-3 (Azhar Ali 132 Misbah 30) At last Stuart Broad returns. Smyth has uncovered this gem: "I was wondering whether Pakistan might be on the way to a record for the biggest difference between second innings and first innings, but they've a fair way to go." Bloody hell – 970 minutes for Hanif's 337 and even Clyde Walcott bolwed five maidens. I prematurely posted this segment, sorry. I'm so excited. Broad sticks to his plan for Azhar, trying to cut off his ability to frree his arms and square him up but the last ball drifts towarsd his stumps and Azhar flicks it away for a single.
127th over: Pakistan 324-3 (Azhar Ali 131 Misbah 29) Azhar has decided to get a zip on and unleashes the Dilshan scoop, running the ball over the head of where leg slip would be off Swann and running two.
126th over: Pakistan 322-3 (Azhar Ali 129 Misbah 29) Signs that Pakistan are beginning to take the attack to England now, the batsmen deciding to sweep balls that are outside off stump, or standing up to paddle anything remotely short through the leg side. "Here in the States we have the concept of 'seasons', which takes into account, when scheduling outdoor activities, the varying weather throughout the year," writes Paul Taylor. "Is it so also in England, or are the 'T-shirt and short pants' sports and the 'bounce the little white ball on the ground' sports so far advanced as to be not mindful of such trivialities?" That's too difficult a question for this time of morning, Paul. I'm not sure I even understand it. Monty ends his over with another quicker ball but Misbah has it covered, smothering the spin with an angled, dead bat.
125th over: Pakistan 320-3 (Azhar Ali 128 Misbah 28) Azhar gets his sweep out and belts it off the toe of his bat, turning his wrists to smack it behind squer for four. Next up Swann gives him the one that goes straight and it misses the edge by milimetres. He's not had much luck but he hasn't stopped trying to refain the flight and drift that took him up to No2 in the world. From the fifth ball Misbah smashes his sweep for four and Swann shouts something akin to "Clucking bell", disgusted at bowling a full toss.
124th over: Pakistan 310-3 (Azhar Ali 122 Misbah 23) Monty continues over the wicket, Misbah padding everything away. So he goes back round at last and has his leg-before appeal, missing the thickish edge and losing England's last review. The last ball of the over is a peach, Monty's quicker one darting towards off-stump then spinning viciously and bouncing towards slip.
Review!! Misbah lbw Panesar – England appeal Turned down, Misbah inside-edged it on to his pads.
123rd over: Pakistan 309-3 (Azhar Ali 122 Misbah 23) Swann's back and gets Misbah inside edging towards short leg, bouncing short of Alastair Cook. This is getting to be quite hypnotic, the majesty of the stonewalling from Azhar, is sending me into a trance.
122nd over: Pakistan 306-3 (Azhar Ali 120 Misbah 22) That over simply flew by. "Stalemate," says Athers. Too right. Rob Smyth might be stranded but he's still at the coalface. "Pakistan really should be 39-6 on the first morning more often," he writes.
121st over: Pakistan 305-3 (Azhar Ali 119 Misbah 22) Another over from Anderson with his short-of-a-length attack. Two off it. Sanjeev in Lubbock, Buddy Holly country, writes: "Chris Tavare and Geoff Boycott (till his mom started beating the crap out of anyone with a stick of rhubarb all of a sudden) batting together for England (1981-82 in Delhi) and Gaekwad and Shastri for India (1983-84 in Jallandhar) are the two times that I ever remember batting this slow. With such batting, you begin to wonder why attendances at test matches are low." It is a bit of a grind, Sanjeev.
120th over: Pakistan 303-3 (Azhar Ali 118 Misbah 21) "C'mon Panny boy," yelps Prior as Monty comes over the wicket into the rough. Azhar sweeps him to fine leg for a single, a prejudged shot that comes off, and Misbah kicks the next balls away. Prior calls for a helmet. "Standing on Richard Branson?" posits Colum Farrelly. "What a good idea!" Arf. He's "also in love with Ms Torvalds".
119th over: Pakistan 301-3 (Azhar Ali 117 Misbah 20) Jimmy's continuing with his short-pitch attack. "Re Smyth," writes Gary Naylor. "Snow stops play?" He's strapped up the huskies, Gary, and on his way. Striving for pace Anderson gets a warning when his momentum leads him to lose his balance in his follow through and whack two size 10s on a good length. The skipper isn't too impressed, so Anderson goes around the wicket. Eoin Morgan makes a super diving stop at point when Misbah clips it firmly square. Last ball of the over and Misbah hooks while ducking his head. The ball's on him quicker than he thought and catches the top edge, just clearing the leaping Swann at midwicket.
118th over: Pakistan 298-3 (Azhar Ali 116 Misbah 18) Misbah's lack of footwork has him rocking back and getting a thick edge on to his pads. Muted appeal from Matt Prior, who has taken to calling Monty "Panny".
117th over: Pakistan 298-3 (Azhar Ali 116 Misbah 18) Anderson gets his bouncer out for the first time today, the ball sailing over Azhar's head. He tries it again the second time, closer to Azhar's head who has to duck under it as it passes a foot or so over the stumps. Another short one, oustide off stump, tucks Azhar up and he fends it away with a cross bat. Maiden over. "The Beard Liberation Front has taken the unusual step of authorising the emergency use of false beards for the England cricket team if Pakistan are not bowled out by tea. BLF Organiser Keith Flett says anything to add gravitas to England's performance, and false beards may help. Matt Prior may wish to wear dark glasses instead." How does the BLF stand on Richard Branson? A valued member or one that is tolerated rather than embraced?
116th over: Pakistan 298-3 (Azhar Ali 116 Misbah 18) Monty begins his 40th over, replacing KP. He stations a silly mid-off for Azhar. Brian Rafferty has a confession: "As if The Killing and Borgen were not enough, I am now in love with Sara Torvalds." And speaking of the object of his affection, here she is: "So, basically the bowlers must feel they are bowling for their averages by now. Regardless of the boll.. er, rollicking by Flower, surely nobody in the England team is so delusional as to think the batsmen will suddenly carry their weight in this series?" I don't hold out much hope, Sara. Azhar takes a single off the over and Monty takes out the silly mid-off for Misbah and bowls flatter at him.
115th over: Pakistan 297-3 (Azhar Ali 115 Misbah 18) Here we go with Jimmy Anderson back into the attack. Patrick Over has run up the white flag: "Can England forfeit? With a change of innings the tedium and brilliance of Pakistani accumulation will give way to a very British rout: short periods of resistance mixed with folly and confusion. The benign pitch will be unplayable. And, of course, the DRS will hone all balls on the stumps." Misbah punches the ball through the covers for two but the next ball dies a bit on him, cuts back in and he plays and misses unconvincingly. They're aiming for his pads, to trap him leg-before for the fifth time in the series.
Lunch: There's only me here and Robbie Smyth is delayed by snow, so please excuse me if I don't keep you entertained through the first part of lunch break but I need caffeine urgently. I'll be back in 25 minutes or so. My word, it's cold out there, not as parky as Finland, though, where Sara Toravalds has been exercising her legs and the franchise: "There, I survived a three-kilometre walk to the train station (and I stopped on the way to vote, so I've done my democratic duty as well) in -22 degrees and am now seated on the train to Helsinki. The roads were clear, skies blue and the only thing I had to worry about was frost on my glasses (key is wrapping the scarf around your face in a way that keeps your breath away from your eyes). Now, when do you think Pakistan will declare? They could safely have done so yesterday, of course, but do you think they want to beat England by more or less than 300 runs?" I think they'll declare midway through the evening session, take the sap out of the batsmen's legs and then add fatigue to all the other problems they'll have to wrestle with. Rameez's lunch-time attire has brightened the mood, wearing a red tartan shirt with dark tie. Obviously a Big Country fan.
114th over: Pakistan 295-3 (Azhar Ali 115 Misbah 16) Big shout from Prior for lbw when Piteresen hits Misbah's pad, Misbah retreating on to the back foot. KP didn't appeal, though, and it was too high and turned too much. Misbah sweeps for a single to rotate the strike and Azhar uses Pietersen's bounce to stand up and ride the soin around the corner for two.
113th over: Pakistan 292-3 (Azhar Ali 113 Misbah 15) Swann comes around the wicket again to Azhar. Prior keeps offering praise of the "beautiful, buddy" variety. A vicious ripper beats Azhar, and Prior, going for four byes. Pakistan are 250 ahead aith eight full sessions to go.
112th over: Pakistan 288-3 (Azhar Ali 113 Misbah 15) Pietersen pitches off and middle annd Prior takes it inches outside leg stump. My, he gives it a rip and from his height he gets good bounce. Why he doesn't bowl more I'm not sure. "So I'm living in Indiana at the moment, where the day's play begins at midnight," writes Stephen Todd. "When I woke up this morning, some 18 hours ago, (after going to bed at the cricket's lunch time yesterday), I half expected the match to be over. Yet, today, returning home from a drunken 'lets remember our early 20s with some excessive inebriation' evening, I find that in those 18 hours, ONE wicket has fallen. As a retort to this state of affairs, all I can say is …" snip, snip, even our Stars on Sunday policy wouldn't let that through.
111th over: Pakistan 284-3 (Azhar Ali 111 Misbah 12) A brute of a ball from Swann, turns from outside off and jumps up to hit Misbah around the hip. He gets his hands out of the way very adeptly but it looks ominous for England if it's turning and bouncing so much for the right-hander.
110th over: Pakistan 277-3 (Azhar Ali 111 Misbah 12) It's KP into the attack. I'm lomghing for him to have an lbw appeal to review. He's turning it straight away, a good few inches but the one that moved the most was too short. It's certainly added some element of danger – that the batsmen don't want to get out to Pietersen – to the end of the session. "These 6am starts are perfectly timed for fathers of young children getting up at the weekend," writes Matt Fordham. "And when England are batting, my sons asking 'is he out yet?' After every ball is not far from the truth. Azhar is clearly not listening though." He's got cloth ears, Matt.
109th over: Pakistan 280-3 (Azhar Ali 110 Misbah 10) Misbah takes a pair of singles and Azhar one. They don't look in any discomfort out there. Only Broad has given them a harsh examination.
108th over: Pakistan 277-3 (Azhar Ali 109 Misbah 9) Gray Naylor sums up what I feel about Azhar's innings far better than my sleep-deprived brain can mangae this morning: "Perfect innings for the situation by Azhar. Batting isn't all about flashing drives and getting on top of the bowling. England's middle order should take note." And just as I pasted that Azhar does unleash a sumptuous cover drive off Panesar, making the silly point bounce up to spare his ankles.
107th over: Pakistan 271-3 (Azhar Ali 103 Misbah 9) Our Lord Selvey and master writes in: "Im not too optimistic about England's chances here. There is a whole heap of rough outside the lefthanders' off stump and England have six of them." Yes. When Swann's bowling round the wicket to Azhar, he has occasionally found it and it would make any left-hander jumpy, I would think. Two off the over, Misbah pushing the ball to leg off a full face, with a flick of the writs. Makes him a candidate for short-leg catch, says Nasser Hussain.
106th over: Pakistan 269-3 (Azhar Ali 102 Misbah 8) Azhar comes down the track and takes it on the pad, off the inside edge. He looks desperate to get to three figures and is prepared to btake a risk now. It was a dress rehearsal for the next ball when he rocks and larrups a short ball through point to get to 102. It took him 320 balls to get there, a monument to his dedication and patience.
105th over: Pakistan 265-3 (Azhar Ali 98 Misbah 8) It has been a mix of enthralling defensive play and sheer tedium at times since Younus's dismissal. Misbah's determination to play himself in and Azhar's desire to make his second Test ton have led to some understandable conservatism. "I'm all for measured doses of optimism to lift English snow-bound spirits up, but to be contemplating plans for running through Pakistan's tail when they're only three down and batting the DRS into oblivion might be a tad premature, don't you think?" writes Jamil Masud. I think I'd momentarily succumbed to Bothamania.
104th over: Pakistan 263-3 (Azhar Ali 98 Misbah 6) Azhar comes down the wicket and is rapped on the pad by Panesar who utters a strangulated appeal. Azhar is very cautious until he sweeps a straight ball down to fine leg for four. They're grinding this out.
103rd over: Pakistan 259-3 (Azhar Ali 94 Misbah 6) Matthew Prior keeps chirping awaty with praise for "Chef" and "Belly". Seems abit nonsensical to me. Swann is keeping Misbah on his toes, having to back his ability to kill the ball with his bat because he can't get sufficiently forward to play it with his pad.
102nd over: Pakistan 259-3 (Azhar Ali 94 Misbah 6) Monty is copying Swann, in that he isn't looking for flight and drift. Both are spearing them in a bit. When he overpitches, Misbah turns it off his toes to square leg and runs three.
101st over: Pakistan 256-3 (Azhar Ali 94 Misbah 3) "There's an interesting stat: Swann and Panesar have never played together in a winning Test side," writes John Starbuck. Swann is bowling quickly to Azhar, trying to give him the hurry up by pushing the ball through. More flight for Misbah, who covers any potential spin with a quick bat.
100th over: Pakistan 254-3 (Azhar Ali 93 Misbah 2) Pakistan are 212 ahead. Already enough I would think but I suppose if England could get through to the tail and keep the target below 300 they will feel they've recovered well. Maiden from Monty, his one short ball finding the fielder when cut by Misbah.
99th over: Pakistan 254-3 (Azhar Ali 93 Misbah 2) And it's spin from both ends. Swann has a slip, wholly redundant short leg and a shortish midwicket. He's coming around the wicket to Azhar, you would think to look for the rough but a couple of balls drift on to middle stump and Azhar gets off strike with a push to cover and back on again when Misbah plays tip and run. The last ball of the over is again on middle but full-pitched and Azhar, a nervous 90s-man, palys a weird French cricket block that gets the field ooohing.
98th over: Pakistan 252-3 (Azhar Ali 92 Misbah 1) Monty Panesar comes into the attack. Sky has just done a stats package on Younus, noting his lack of runs (and Tests) in 2008. Aamer Sohail said ruefully, "he was unfortunate to have a dispute with the board chairman … not the only one". What a waste. Monty gets some slowish turn from a couple of balls but seems to be dragging it down more than he was in Abu Dhabi. A shortish one outside off stump is bludgeoned into the ground for a single.
97th over: Pakistan 251-3 (Azhar Ali 91 Misbah 1) Anderson continues but may be suffering lower back pain as he stops after the second ball to lie on the ground and do some stretches. Misbah gets off the mark off the 12th ball he's faced. Here's Gary Naylor: "Not long ago, Stuart Broad was being monstered for six sixes in an over by Yuvraj Singh. Since then, Broad has cemented his place in all formats and Yuvi has had health problems and I understand that he is undergoing chemo in Boston. OBOers wish him well." We do, indeed.
96th over: Pakistan 249-3 (Azhar Ali 90 Misbah 0) Big grunt from Broad when he gets one to cut awat from Azhar. He's deserved more this morning. Is Madiha Sheikh thinking of Stuart when she writes: "
I am a Pakistani cricket fan but never have the patience for the Test matches. Have to say England have made Test cricket worth watching. It helps that they are also quiet the lookers!" And the OBO team, Madiha. Not quite the lookers. That'll be drinks, then. "I wouldn't mind a Variability of Bounce Factor for the pitch and a Ball Heaviness Index for each bowler," writes Joe Healey. Sounds like one for the analyst. Or his near homonym.
95th over: Pakistan 247-3 (Azhar Ali 88 Misbah 0) They're sticking to the plan for Misbah, cramping his ability to move forward and trying to pin him in front. Anderson has certainly got his dander up bowling at the captain. Here's Gary Naylor, on that dropped catch. Have your recovered, Gary? "Swanny has not been as good since he started 'writing' that book. They should only write them once they're done with their central contracts. The Video Diaries can stay though." I enjoyed the book, Gary. Didn't think his candour was particularly wise, though. It wouldn't have sold without it but I think, too, that they're better kept for international retirement. Another maiden, Anderson alternating his length to put doubts in Misbah's mind and keep his feet static.
94th over: Pakistan 247-3 (Azhar Ali 88 Misbah 0) "Surely of all gigs doing the Guardian's OBO is tailor-made for working from home? By which I mean, from under the duvet on the bed near the heater within sight of the telly?," writes Jonathan Wallis. "What happens if you just don't, er, arrive? Here in Melbourne I was off to register at a conference, but it started to rain lightly so I turned around and went home." Jammy bleeder. It would be good to do it from home, with the one problem being the five-year-old wanting to play Junior Scrabble and the two-year-old interrupting to tell me Percy has pushed Thomas off the track. Broad is bowling wonderfully, moving it through the air and off the deck.
93rd over: Pakistan 247-3 (Azhar Ali 88 Misbah 0) Azhar goes down on one knee to smack the ball through the covers and move on to 88. He needs a bat with more meat in it because his timing was perfect but still it didn't make the rope. Nasser Hussain reckons Anderson is floating the ball in where Broad is bowling it. He's right, until the fifth and sixth balls where he really bends his back and tries to catch Misbah on the crease, looking for the lbw.
92nd over: Pakistan 244-3 (Azhar Ali 85 Misbah 0) "Yes we're going to lose 3-0. But contrary to expectation both sides are going to finish the series on good terms for the first time in living memory," writes Ian Forth. "England can lick their wounds and pretend it never happened – like Australia have just done after being 21-9 against South Africa and beaten by New Zealand at home. Pakistan have regained much pride and restored their integrity. Everyone's a winner, apart from Eoin Morgan."
Wicket!! Younus lbw Broad 127 Broad keeps pegging away, looking for the swing and getting it but unthreateningly because it's moving most the further it is pitched outside off-stump. Then he traps him with one that doesn't move away. It looks a little bit high to me but the umpire correctly judged it was in line and going to clip the off-bail. Umpire's call has worked in England's favour.
Pakistan REVIEW!! Younus lbw Broad
91st over: Pakistan 244-2 (Azhar Ali 85 Younus 127) Azhar has a reprieve on the first ball of Anderson's over, nicking low to second slip where Swann dives forward and gets two fingers of his left hand underneath the ball but cannot hang on. Sir Ian Botham says he went up too soon and then had to quickly get back down again, his trigger movement making it more difficult and his handling not being able to compensate for being off-balance and too high in his crouch. Dear, oh dear.
90th over: Pakistan 242-2 (Azhar Ali 84 Younus 126) Broad raps Younus on the pad but it was too high to get a leg-before decision. Later he gets more bounce still, catching Azhar unawares with a leaper but the batsman compensates, possibly by loosening his grip, and fends it away safely. It's been an excellent opening spell from Broad.
89th over: Pakistan 239-2 (Azhar Ali 82 Younus 125) Younus creams Anderson's first ball through the covers for four. He's scored a triple century, two doubles and two 190s in the past so has the virtue of patience and stickability. Anderson tries to counter by going a little bit wider on the crease. Younus watches it and pats the ball towards point. "We're not that big on snow shoes here, actually, but prefer to plough the snow off streets etc.'" writes Sara Torvalds. Of course, there are days when things go badly in Finland, too. Only the other day we had lots of accidents because of the unusual combination of very cold weather and heavy snowfall (usually it will be one or the other, but the Gulf of Finland hasn't frozen over yet this year)." Snow-ploughing the streets? It'll never catch on. Here's Sara's clip of the Finland blizzards.
88th over: Pakistan 235-2 (Azhar Ali 82 Younus 121) Jaffa from Broad to Azhar almost catches him having a nibble outside off-stump but it juts eludes the edge. Dave Todd, from Sydney (not inconsequentially), says: "Given the hefty sentences handed down for bowling a few no balls and my ignorance of the law, I was just wondering what sort of sentence a person might get in England for impersonating a batsman? With transportation no longer possible (nor desirable on our part), and custodial rather harsh, do you think it will be simple deportation?" The same fate as Philip Hughes, one suspects. It's a batsman's world, Broad making a marginal error by trying to push one back on to the stumps is clipped through midwicket for three then almost gets Azhar having a slashing square cut at the filthiest ball he's bowled all morning but the batsman misses it.
87th over: Pakistan 231-2 (Azhar Ali 81 Younus 118) Shot! from Younus Khan, to post the double century partnership, leaning into a cover drive that is just clawed back before it hits the rope. Anderson keeps to his fourth stump line until the last ball which Azhar tucks off his pads for a single.
86th over: Pakistan 227-2 (Azhar Ali 80 Younus 115) "Good morning, Rob. Yes, snow just about everywhere but the roads are clear round our way so no excuses," writes John Starbuck. "Even so, it's a good job it's not a working day for most of us, as I understand it is over there. Will England turn up to put a proper shift in?" They got a tremendous boll…, er rollicking from Andy Flower this morning according to Sky so one senses they will not chuck the towel in. They look more upbeat, their smiles not so rueful this morning, and Broad has been very tight with his line, bowling his second successive maiden.
85th over: Pakistan 227-2 (Azhar Ali 80 Younus 115) I, as Michael Jackson had it, am not alone. Good morning, Sara Torvalds: "Hundreds of emails coming in from people saying that they really believe a) that England will bowl Pakistan out in the first hour, and b) that the England batsmen are going to score runs like it's the Ashes again. No?" A little short on the ground, Sara. "Ah, well. Better stick to commenting on the weather, then. Here in Karis, Finland it's -22 - which naturally won't keep anyone from voting in today's presidential elections." That's tennis racket on shoe weather, Sara. Anderson is striving for the trick of tempting Azhar with balls moving away then trapping him with one that cuts back in but the batsman is not falling for it. He takes a solitary single by piercing the off-side ring.
84th over: Pakistan 226-2 (Azhar Ali 79 Younus 115) Broad's first ball is a mirror of Anderson's but his second starts closer to off stump and Younus leaves it well alone. There's definitely some movement in the air – his first four balls are genuine outswingers, modifying his length to test Younus who is being very watchful, putting bat to ball only for the fifth and six balls, dabbing them towards point. Maiden.
83rd over: Pakistan 226-2 (Azhar Ali 79 Younus 115) Jimmy Anderson begins with a loosener, arcing away outside off stump as Jerusalem is sung with a rocking drum accompaniment from the Pakistan fans. Pakistan are 180 ahead at the start of play. After two moving away his third and fourth jag back in and Azhar goes on to his toes and plays the shorter fourth ball to midwicket for two. He takes two more off the last ball, punching it through mid on. It's been a calm, confident start from Azhar.
Good morning: I hope it's been a more comfortable experience for you than me. There are at least two inches of snow on the London pavements and an army of stranded night owls trudging around Kings Cross, some wrapped in silver foil blankets having gone out for the night in T-shirts and trying to flag down cars, not specifically taxis, to try and cadge a lift home. So, forgive me if I look at the temperatures on offer in Dubai with a touch of the gren eye.
As for the match itself, I haven't got the time to give you much of a preamble, save to say how impressive Younus Khan and Azhar Ali were yesterday and particularly the way they got the spinners to shift their line of attack and then milked them in the last session. Barring a storming day from England, Pakistan's first ever 3-0 series victory looks on. Given the looks on their faces when deciding to go for a review yesterday, they seem bemused by their fate and almost resigned to it.
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