Key events
Pakistan win the toss and bowl
Shaheen Afridi gets the coin flip go his way and wants to bowl.
He cites the ‘fresh’ surface as a reason for his decision, wanting to get a look at it before having a bat.
Anyone else seeing a red glass on the bottom right corner of their screen?
I promise I’m not at a pub!
Anyway, here comes the toss…
There’s been a late call up for Maaz Sadaqat to the Pakistan squad. He replaces the injured left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqeem.
Oh, worth also mentioning that Pakistan will wear pink today, taking a lead out of South Africa’s book as they change from their natural green to raise funds and awarness for breast cancer.
Reports are it’s nice and sunny in Lahore. Should be a belter of a day. Expect loads of runs.
While you settle in, why not catch up on some reading (Barney’s piece on Temba Bavuma is quite excellent)”:
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
For the past two days, I’ve not been able to get Harry Brook out of my mind.
What has been going through his head since he clobbered and caressed his way to the fastest double-century in ODI history, a staggering 202 from 116 balls, only to watch his bowlers fail to defend 430?
What’s the equivalent in another sport? Scoring six goals in football only for your defence to concede seven in the second half? Hitting every fairway in golf, then four-putting every green?
Brook is back in action as England face Pakistan for the second time in this tri-series. Pakistan won the teams’ previous meeting by 87 runs, with Brook making five as England’s batters folded against Arafat Minhas’ six-for; bowled out for 215.
A win would send Pakistan into the final with a game to spare, and they have the chance to do it at their Lahore HQ. For England, a third straight defeat in this format, less than a year before the World Cup, would deepen the questions. They need to put together a complete performance.
Will they do it? We’ll find out when things get going at 8am UK time.
Got your coffee and toast? Let’s get stuck in!
Leave a Reply