SatNav for Xmas

England 258 all out
v West Indies 427 all out
England 171-3
close on Day 3

2nd Test

Played at Headingley

Sunday 27 August 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Pint, Black Sheep, Best Bitter on Cask at 3.8%.

Shaping up this one. When you have a team at 71 for 4 on Day 1. Who come up under par at less than 260. You get a game where “every session matters”. It’s Maths. There’ll be twists & turns & you can lose it. I’d prefer 430 on the Tins mind. But, it is what it is.

England just took the lead in the final few balls of the day. With “only” three down. Root still there. Stokes, Bairstow, Woakes & Moeen and bits to come. The day started spectacularly. Jimmy Anderson took wickets with his/the first two balls of the day. Bloke next to me sat down as he was coming in with the Hat Trick Ball. He didn’t like my suggestion I get him a new alarm clock for Christmas. He felt that wasn’t the problem. “Didn’t think it’d take that long to drive here”. I’m getting him a SatNav with one of those Arrival Time settings instead.

That gave Anderson five in the innings & puts him on 497 for his career. Is the script going to write itself in the Fourth? You Betcha. But, 329 for 7 begat 404 for 8 & 427 all out.  Those (roughly) 100 runs & that stand of 75 between Holder & Blackwood, will really help. Could easily be the difference in the end. In Deal Or No Deal. I felt if England were 160-4, that would be very difficult for England to win.  So, it’s ended 171 for 3. So, according to my thinking, we’re still in it. Push on. Take it past a ton. Take it to 180. That’ll put the Windies under pressure. But, they’re allowed to take wickets an’ all. So, it’s another mattering session in the morning.

What do we know? Westley (& Stoneman) was involved in a horrendous running between the wickets fiasco. Matched only by a complete fuck up by keeper Dowrich. Dropped the return. Missed his throw at the stumps - from “yards”. Westley then went for just 8. Chasing a wide ‘un. He’s in trouble. One more Test before the Ashes. I’d bin him & try & get Ballance in for that final Test. And. In General. I’d find something for Hales.

Lovely pint that one. Same as the others. But, in the context of the game. Lovely.

524/1104