END OF OVER:20 | 5 Runs | PAK: 154/6 | RR: 7.70
- Mohammad Rizwan76 (57b)
- Hasan Ali15 (9b)
- Chris Jordan4-0-30-0
- Saqib Mahmood3-0-33-0
8.08pm Well, Rizwan held Pakistan together there, particularly while Adil Rashid was sorting out the top-order with his career-best figures. But apart from Hasan Ali, there wasn't much support. And nor could Rizwan see enough of the strike at the end. Moeen Ali did a fine job too, no boundaries off his four overs.
"It'll be a good game, they've got a decent score," says Moeen. "I tried to bowl quite quick, there was enough there. Rash takes wickets, he said he didn't feel good but still took four wickets. If we play well, and one or two guys get it, it'll be a good game." The ball is definitely spinning though. It won't be a cakewalk. Alan will be here in a mo for the resumption.
Rashid comes into the circle at fine leg as Morgan rings the changes for Rizwan
Talha: ""Another yorker, another swipe, under-edged to the leg side. He keeps the strike"Are you a poet too?" Doesn't quite scan. Must try harder...
RiwajAdhikari: "So folks, Alan Hardy just had a chat with Andrew Miller on ESPNcricinfo commentary today!" It happens, I am very chatty...
Patrick: "Mr Hardy obviously not aware that Willey is usually good at the top of the innings, hence the 5 an over, then almost always gets launched at the death, hence the reluctance to go back to him. They need to know if Mahmood can bowl at the death." That Mahmood factor is particularly pertinent I reckon.
Jordan to wrap things up
END OF OVER:19 | 14 Runs | PAK: 149/6 | RR: 7.84
- Hasan Ali12 (5b)
- Mohammad Rizwan74 (55b)
- Saqib Mahmood3-0-33-0
- Chris Jordan3-0-25-0
Ali: "Hasan Ali justified his replacement of Azam Khan as a batsman by beating his average with this score" Poor old Azam had just seven balls in the first two games
Alan Hardy: "And now it's the expensive Mahmood... while Willey who's gone for 5 an over twiddles his fingers." There's really no pleasing you tonight is there?
Salman: "You can use this ¯\_(ツ)_/¯" That's the badger, life was too short to type it myself
END OF OVER:18 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 135/6 | RR: 7.50
- Mohammad Rizwan73 (54b)
- Hasan Ali0 (0b)
- Chris Jordan3-0-25-0
- Adil Rashid4-0-35-4
Alan Hardy: "Hmm... Jordan bowling so only one more for Willey - again, Willey tidier than Jordan, who's bowling on his 'death bowling' rep..." If only the Cricinfo CMS could manage emojis, I'd respond with a *shrug*
Shahzada: "Babar is not a power hitter, for some reason he kept trying to muscle the ball which is not his game,instead of taking it deep, like all others, Pakistan has lost this series already." Steady on, this pitch is spinning sharply..
Imad Wasim run out 3 (5m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 150.00
AllenG : "Mate so you're telling me in a squad of 23 players root cannot find a spot?" Seems ludicrous doesn't, but given his workload this year, and the wealth of options, and the bio-bubble element, seems unlikely
END OF OVER:17 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 125/5 | RR: 7.35
- Mohammad Rizwan66 (50b)
- Adil Rashid4-0-35-4
- Moeen Ali4-0-19-1
Alan Hardy: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it... Livingstone tidy and Rashid expensive, so Rashid gets a bowl... captains so often get this wrong." Nailed it, to be fair
Shadab Khan c Livingstone b Rashid 2 (8m 5b 0x4 0x6) SR: 40.00
Badar: "@Matt, you're spot on. England are doing their homework for the WC just fine. They're on the right track. Livingstone has surely edged out Root." Indeed. I made this very point on the Switch Hit pod this week.