Thursday, October 9, 2008

Final stretch

* And in a tragedy of technology, the laptop battery died with 3 overs to go.  So, wat did we miss?  The new ball being taken and ZK bowling a ripper of an in-swinger to Bingle that kept low and hit him in front of middle.  Slow death came and stumps followed with Australia on 4/245 - honours slightly with Australia, but a lot resting on the shoulders of Watson, Haddin and White. to post a 450 plus total

* 3/245 and it is good to know that the Indian ball boys have learnt not to stand right at the boundary with their head down waiting of rhte ball to come to them only to see it hit the rope and almost knock their teeth out.  Well done.

*Anil Kumble has just bowled probablt the worst over of the day.  Three half trackers that got hit to the boundary combined with one where he seemed to try to hide behind the umpire before bursting out and surprising Clarke.  Unfortunately, this was one of the half trackers.

* By the way, for other comments on this Test match go to both Fly Slip and Cricket With Balls

* With 15 minutes left, Brazen and Bingle are looking to stumps.  I reckon the new ball has to make an appearance for a few overs here - a few balls into the rib cages.

* India have the new ball due but are continuing with the old one with Bhaji throwing them down and getting belted by Brazen.  Firstly into sill mid off and then to the boundary - where surprisingly a good piece of fielding stopped the 4 - wonders will never cease.

* They've just shown the replay from a different angle and maybe Punter was a bit unlucky.  Hit him in front of off with Bhaji bowling from wide of the crease.  Suggestions of the ball missing leg.  But that's the way the cookie crumbles - and the pitch it seems.  Perhaps we should threaten to go home and end RUUUUUDI's career

* And Mick Bingle comes in for a testing period before stumps - new bal due soon and Bhaji is bowling OK.

* Wicket - And it just comes back on in time to see Harbhajan get Punter LBW for 123.  Trying to sweep, the ball pitched outside off, turned in, snuck under the bat and hit him probably in front of middle, going on to take middle and leg.

*And in tragic scenes, the footage has disappeared

* And in true Viru fashion, he's just pushed one past the outside edge of the Brazen bat with plenty of turn.

*  2/222 - the Ritchie wet dream.  Big ups to billy birmingham.  and to prove that the cricket commentators have a direct line to kumble...on comes Sehwag.  He needs a wicket or two to make up for firing up Punter.  He looks very spiritual with that shaved head.  I suspect Punter will want to hit him to Chennai.

*  bangladesh look like winning by 8 wickets.  This is a good day for cricket (particularly because the Bangles' batting AND bowling went well).  Go you little Banglis!

*  We're all debating hawkeye here at Eastlake.  The consensus is that it is poor at predicting the flight of the ball, which is subject to many more variables than tennis.

BTW Punter also has an old helmet.  "A nod to the vintage years"  opines our colleague, Dockerman 1977.

*  2-216, LBW appeal.  not out, but close.  and Kumble (remember him, the guy who complained about over appealing) goes coco-bananas.  Rudi gives him the teapot look.  Naughty!

*  2/215 - 49 run partnership.  surprisingly brazen has 26 of them.  And now we play the game where commentators start to suggest randoms to bowl.  sehwag?

*  Dropped - in close on the on-side off Kumble...who then jumps around...jumps around...he jumps up, he jumps down!

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