END OF OVER:20 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 145/6 | RR: 7.25
- Tom Curran2 (3b)
- Joe Denly29 (19b)
- Kane Richardson4-0-31-1
- Mitchell Starc4-0-20-1
7.40pm: Well, that was a bit of a laboured slog from England. Couple of excellent overs at the death prevented them from getting any closer to 150... but this might still be a tricky chase, given the slowness of the surface. Jonny Bairstow's 55 from 44 was rarely fluent, while Joe Denly poked and swung his way to 29 from 19 in the face of an impressive performance from Australia's five-man attack, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood in particular. Can Finch and co get over the line this time? Join Al again in 10 to find out
Here's Duncan Ward: "Fully behind AndrewS here, Denly has looked like a fish out of water all night - only one of those 3 consecutive fours was a proper shot, the other two were very streaky luck. Plenty of young batsmen who'd I'd prefer in right now."
Tom Curran is the new batsman
CJ Jordan c Smith b Richardson 4 (14m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66
Last six, Richardson to bowl
END OF OVER:19 | 5 Runs | ENG: 141/5 | RR: 7.42
- Chris Jordan4 (5b)
- Joe Denly27 (17b)
- Mitchell Starc4-0-20-1
- Kane Richardson3-0-27-0
Denly is okay to continue, one ball left in Starc's allocation
"What would be a par score on this pitch? 140?150?" Well, two previous games have seen scores of 162, 160, 157 and 158, Samro... But this is the same surface again, so 150 might be competitive
"@Andrew S: What were you saying again," snorts Ved M
Two overs to go, Starc to bowl out. England eyeing 150
END OF OVER:18 | 16 Runs | ENG: 136/5 | RR: 7.55
- Chris Jordan1 (1b)
- Joe Denly25 (15b)
- Kane Richardson3-0-27-0
- Mitchell Starc3-0-15-1
Isaac Marshall: "It's funny how the England setup say Malan can't be in the strongest XI due to batting position yet play Banton at 5 and Denly at 6 more than the top order. Malan should play the Root role (at 4); only difference being he can explode at the back end." I think Morgan is pretty adept at No.4, but guess he could easily drop down
Kane Richardson returns
END OF OVER:17 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 120/5 | RR: 7.05
- Joe Denly10 (10b)
- Chris Jordan0 (0b)
- Mitchell Starc3-0-15-1
- Ashton Agar4-0-35-1
Chris Jordan walks out at No. 7, Denly on strike as they crossed
MM Ali c Smith b Starc 23 (27m 21b 2x4 1x6) SR: 109.52
"I just can't see the reasoning behind playing Denly, when let's be honest he's approaching the end of his career when you've got younger players like Livingstone waiting." AndrewS is among the Denly doubters... Tell it to Ed Smith, Andrew