Oval Test

[oldcolner]

Underway again with England winning the toss and batting having reached 107-2 against some good bowling. Cook on 45 and Root 27
Jennings got a duck and Westley 25.

[oldcolner]

Philander back on causing troubles after having to go off for a gut problem.
Root caught behind off him for 29.
Malan comes on at 113-3

[Altobelli]

I was waiting for someone to put this up as I'm getting lazy, thanks Colner :)

[Altobelli]

England 136 for 4

Cook 66 and Stokes just coming in on 7, saying that they are having a look at a Stokes run out... .. . . . . . he's safe.

[Altobelli]

Rain stopped play.

[oldcolner]

Ends 171-4
Well done Cook on 82 and Stokes 21. Difficult conditions and some tight bowling.
New recruits added little so far! Westley unlucky to be caught out by rain breaks.

[Supersub6]

Tomorrow morning will be crucial for us. The South Africans will come at us with a very good bowling attack and Cook and Stokes will have to deal with it, otherwise we could be in real trouble if either of them go quickly.
Interesting times ahead.

[oldcolner]

Agree but ... Wonder if rain will be a significant factor

[Altobelli]

Dry to start with in Vauxhall this morning, but its very overcast in my garden but hopefully it gets brighter a few miles down the road.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Dry to start with in Vauxhall this morning, but its very overcast in my garden but hopefully it gets brighter a few miles down the road.

What's the wicket like in the back garden Alto? Might just bowl a googly or two when I see you. :D

[Altobelli]

No Cricket on my lawn BT, I even keep both eyes on the Grandchildren when they are playing out there, don't even let them water the plants with what I spend on them every year I protect them at all times.

[Altobelli]

Cook gone lbw by Morkel for 88, England 183 for 5, Bairstow taking guard.

[oldcolner]

No Cricket on my lawn BT, I even keep both eyes on the Grandchildren when they are playing out there, don't even let them water the plants with what I spend on them every year I protect them at all times.

Is that the grandchildren from the plants?? Are they carnivorous ones? :O

[oldcolner]

Cook gone lbw by Morkel for 88, England 183 for 5, Bairstow taking guard.

Philanderer swinging it about a lot!!

[oldcolner]

Philander off ill again
New ball taken and Rabada gets Bairstow for 36 after a good innings so now 258-6 with Stokes 63. Ali in now

[Altobelli]

269 for 6, Lunchen.

"Philanderer swinging it about a lot"!! Most of it is in the toilet though Colner :)

[Altobelli]

SA into the tail now with Roland -Jones coming in for Moeen with Stokes still there on 68, England 280 for 7.

[oldcolner]

330-8 with RJ getting 25. Stokes on 90 with Broad on 3. Better than it looked

[Altobelli]

England all out for 353, Stokes getting 112, yes we pulled it back in the end Colner, bowlers have to perform now.

[oldcolner]

England all out for 353, Stokes getting 112, yes we pulled it back in the end Colner, bowlers have to perform now.

Well done Toby RJ
First wicket in Test cricket and 18-1 at tea. Looking good

[Altobelli]

Aye he's done very well Colner, plus we have got the Burnley Express in reserve :)

[Altobelli]

Roland Jones gets his 2nd wicket of Kuhn for 15, SA 23 for 2 :)

[oldcolner]

Roland Jones gets his 2nd wicket of Kuhn for 15, SA 23 for 2 :)

Well done ToRoJo though a bit close to a no ball for me!

[Supersub6]

Very interesting match so far. I thought that we did well to reach 353, particularly after losing Cook early this morning. Stokes really came into his own and played a really responsible knock.
Great to see Roland-Jones seize his chance and is bowling well at the minute.
What's the weather like alto?

[Supersub6]

Another one bites the dust. Good catch by Stokes who made it look easy, RoJo now 4-20!

[Altobelli]

Been overcast and dull all day and its still looking like rain as its been off and on all day Sub.

[Altobelli]

And another one bites the dust with Anderson getting Du Plessis for 1, SA Struggling on 47 for 5.

[Supersub6]

I wonder if they will manage to get enough to avoid the follow on, particularly as they are basically down to 10 men at the moment. This is a good come back by England after the last test.

[Altobelli]

Just got back from taking the Mrs to Catford and it was absolutely throwing it down, strange as its only 4 miles away yet the weather here is the same as at the Oval.

England just get Rabada bowled by Broad, SA 114 for 8

[Altobelli]

A pleasant day here in South East London where SA resume on 126 for 8, rain expected after tea though.

After having just watched the segment on Kevin (arrogant) Pietersen on Sky with the sound down (he really gets up my nose) I cannot wait for the match to start.

[Altobelli]

SA still hanging on with 137 for 8 with Bavuma and Morkel, don't think we will enforce the follow on if we get it as the ball is doing nothing.

[Altobelli]

Stokes drops Bavuma, a hard chance to be fair.

[Supersub6]

I missed that! I was just settling down to watch when I got the call from the missus that the main drain outside our house was blocked, therefore, had to get the rods out and do my duty.
Just got back in and see that they have avoided the follow on --- good match for them to win!!

[Altobelli]

Diving catch, would have been brilliant if he could of held onto it Sub.

[Altobelli]

http://i61.tinypic.com/29m9mc7.jpg

Morkel gone, Bowled by the Burnley Express and caught in the slips

[Altobelli]

Philander walking out, lets see how ill he is, SA 161 for 9.

[Altobelli]

http://i61.tinypic.com/29m9mc7.jpg

5 for Roland-Jones on his debut as Bairstow takes a nick from Bavuma.

SA 175 all out.

[oldcolner]

Would have taken that at start of their innings, but a bit disappointing when they were 61-7. Well done Jimmy and Toby. Hope it means the wickets placid.
Jennings dropped so hope he can build on his luck and get a score.
20-0 at lunch gives us a lead of 198

[Altobelli]

British Summer eh.


ENG 74/1, lead by 252

[Altobelli]

Morning all, Jennings just caught 2 short of his 50, England 92 for 2 lead by 270

[Altobelli]

England go into Lunch 153 for 2, Root 38 and Westley 50 holding fort as we stretch to a 331 lead.

[Altobelli]

Westley stumped for 59, England 170 for 3, leading by 348

[Altobelli]

Root gone for 50.

[Altobelli]

Malan lbw for 10, England 202 for 5, 380 ahead

[Altobelli]

England declare on 313 for 8 leading by 491 runs.

[Altobelli]

Broad strikes, Kuhn bowled for 11, SA 21 for 1.

[oldcolner]

Looking good and weather ok for tomorrow unlike Glasgow!
Well we regret not taking an earlier declaration I wonder. Much depends on Amla

[Altobelli]

Alma just gone Colner, caught behind bowled by Roland-Jones for 5. SA 47 for 2

[Altobelli]

Stokes turn to get in on the act as he bowls De Kock for 5, SA 52 for 3

[Altobelli]

Du Plessis lbw first ball by Stokes, Umpires having a look at a revue....... . . . . . and umpire's decision stands, he's gone.

[Altobelli]

Bavuma the in form man walks out, SA struggling on 52 for 4, needing 492 to win.

[Altobelli]

Stokes on a hat trick to Bavuma.. . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . nudged away for a run. SA 61 for 4

[Altobelli]

David Gower wearing his blue blazer yesterday.....

http://i66.tinypic.com/25g6sfd.jpg

[Supersub6]

Great afternoon of sport with the cricket being very watchable. Flicking on and off the Hungarian GP and back to cricket, then a break from that to watch the Rugby League Challenge Cup Semi Final between Wigan and Salford which was a great game to watch with Wigan coming out on top and going on to play Hull in the Final at Wembley.
Next up will be the England Women playing against France in the hope of getting through to the Semi-Final of the European Championship --I'll be lost tomorrow with just cricket to watch ;D

[Altobelli]

Out of your viewing Sub only Cricket would have done it for me today.

SA finish the day on 117 for 4, Bavuma and especially Elgar who's taken a pasting holding firm for them.

[oldcolner]

Been out alto so missed most of their innings but it's looking good for Jimmy tomorrow.

[Altobelli]

1st wicket of the day after a review by Root, Bavuma (32) given out lbw bowled by that man Toby Roland-Jones.

South Africa 160 for 5, needing 492.

[Altobelli]

Philander in. .. . . .. and out lbw, bowled 1st ball by TRJ.

160 for 6

[Altobelli]

Hat trick ball for TRJ, Morris facing him... . .. . .. . . . unlucky as he got the edge but it did not carry to Stokes in the slips.

[Supersub6]

Second hat-trick chance in this innings with Roland-Jones following on from Stokes --not often that that happens in Test cricket.
Still some hard work to get through to win this match.

[Altobelli]

Elgar get his hundred.

South Africa 169 for 6

[Altobelli]

Second hat-trick chance in this innings with Roland-Jones following on from Stokes --not often that that happens in Test cricket.
Still some hard work to get through to win this match.

Elgar the only one being stubborn Sub, especially after being peppered yesterday he's showing the way.

[Altobelli]

Elgar's stubborn but excellent innings comes to an end for 136, caught Stokes bowled Moeen.

SA 252 for 8

[Altobelli]

Rabada goes first ball again caught Stokes bowled Moeen, Moeen now on a hat trick.

[Altobelli]

Moeen on a hat trick and its on review as umpire's finger does not go up for lbw.. . . . no bat.... . its out, first hat rick for an English spinner since 1938 :star:

England win by 239 runs

[Altobelli]

Ben Stokes gets MOTM ahead of Cook, Elgar, Roland-Jones and Moeen.

[oldcolner]

Sets things up nicely for Old Trafford.
Stokes innings was the game changer, though the RoJo wickets must have been almost as good.
Test match hat tricks are like hens teeth
Been out so will have to make do with highlights.

[Supersub6]

I missed the final session because I had to go out.
So Moeen ended up with a hat-trick to win the game. I said that it was unusual for two bowlers in the same innings in Test cricket to have a chance of a hat-trick, however, three must be some sort of record, particularly when the last one achieved his objective.
Looking forward to the Old Trafford test now because this series has been topsy turvy to say the least.