Key events
WICKET! Overton c Mohammad Nabi b Azmatullah Omarzai 32 (England 309-8)
This is not over yet! Jamie Overton is caught at long on. England need 17 from 13. Afghanistan need JUST TWO WICKETS.
I am calm.
Archer is nearly caught spectacularly in the deep at wide mid off by Rashid Khan! A great effort to get to it and make the attempt but it goes down as a drop. England breathe a huge sigh of relief and then it is fist pumps all round as Overton pulls the next ball powerfully for four!
47th over: England 301-7 (Overton 27, Archer 11) Archer hustles for two and make it home. Farooqi pitches fuller but no sign of his yorker yet, that’s such an effective ball for him. Four! Jofra gets an inside edge and it flies past the stumps and past the keeper for four. Ten runs off the over in total for England.
25 runs needed from 18 balls. Want to hear something quite exciting? In the event of tie we’ll have a – your friend and mine – super over!
46th over: England 291-7 (Overton 21, Archer 4) Root walked off the field very slowly and gingerely, he’d been running on empty for a while. Jofra’s first shot might perk him up though – a crunching back foot punch for four. Just like that.
Joe Root c Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Azmatullah Omarzai (England 287-7)
England are going to have to do this the hard way, without Joe Root. Absolute scenes in Lahore as Root attempts a back cut off Azmatullah but the effort ball from the bowler had too much spice on it, the glove is taken and Gurbaz swallows the catch!
England need 39 from 25 balls and Jofra Archer joins Jamie Overton in the middle.
JOE ROOT IS OUT!
Root hobbles a couple as Overton pulls into the leg side. Nurse! Another quick single gets Root on strike. Shot! Great hands from Root as he manipulates a slower ball round the corner for four. Overton is playing his part too, he calls Root through for another two with a drop into the leg side, Root has just enough in the tank to get home. Huge moment incoming though…
45th over: England 278-6 (Root 114, Overton 21) Ten off the over, the incredible ramped six and four singles that Root labours through. He is really struggling with cramp now. Root attempts another reverse-hit off the last ball and gets a tiny tickle on it but it lands short of Gurbaz. No guts no glory eh.
England need 48 from 30 deliveries. Afghanistan need wickets.
WHAT A SHOT! Root plays a Dilscoop ramp shot off his nose and from waaay outside off stump that soars over the keeper and away for SIX! Remarkable.
44th over: England 268-6 (Root 107, Overton 18) Rashid Khan into his last over. Root is cramping up quite badly but plays him with real skill as he has done all match. Seven runs worked off the over as Afghanistan start to show a few nerves, a few shouts and screams between players out there.
43rd over: England 261-6 (Root 102, Overton 16) Jamie Overton comes to the party with two welcome and well timed boundaries clutched in each hand. He may as well be the Fonz for England right now. Farooqi is too short and Overton uses his long levers and sizeable muscles to pull away for consecutive fours. Ten off the over. It’s an optimal time for Overton to turn up, Root has taken some fluids on board to keep cramp at bay for the final assualt.
42nd over: England 251-6 (Root 101, Overton 7) Rashid Khan back into the attack with two overs up his sleeve.
Root tucks into the leg side to get the single he needs for his 17th ODI hundred and his first in six years! A muted celebration, Root is only interested in getting the job done for his team. If he gets out then England are pretty much cooked. That’s a damn fine knock though and under serious pressure.
Six runs in total off the over. Khan just has one left now.
England need 75 from 48 balls.
41st over: England 245-6 (Root 99, Overton 3) Sad eyed Jos of the low scores watches on anxiously from the England dug out. It’s a cruel game at times. That’ll perk him up a little – Root pulls with panache to the midwicket fence to get four. Some nervy/spunky running sees nine runs pocketed off the over. Root goes to 99 in the process. 81 off 54…
40th over: England 236-6 (Root 91, Overton 2) Noor Ahmad gets his second (and final) warning for running on the danger zone. Umpire Joel Wilson ticking him off like a stern schoolmaster. Overton can’t rotate strike, he soaks up four dot balls after a Root single. Run rate creeping up to near nine an over.
39th over: England 235-6 (Root 90, Overton 2) Jamie Overton joins Joe Root in the middle and clips for two into midwicket.
England need 91 needed from 66 balls. Afghanistan need four wickets.
Do you need a drink?!
WICKET! Livingstone c Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Gulbadin Naib 10 (England 233-6)
Afghanistan go to pace, Gulbadin is thrown the ball. Livingstone drives for four but then nicks off going for a full blown cut shot and is caught behind by a joyous Gurbaz. We’re going to the wire aren’t we?
38th over: England 228-5 (Root 90, Livingstone 6) Afghanistan go on the attack with a slip in place to Livingstone. Love that. Noor Ahmad beats him with a googly that Livingstone pokes at tentatively. A single down the ground brings Root on strike. Shot! Root nails a reverse sweep off the last ball to pick up four. Root of the Rovers stuff this.
37th over: England 220-5 (Root 84, Livingstone 4) Crikes! Livingstone off the mark with an edge for four. England will take them however which way and loose. The game goes back to dancing on a knife edge.
Liam Livingstone joins Root with England needing 110 from 79 balls. He looked to have pulled a calf in the field, will he be able to bat… yes I am pausing over the word ‘properly’.
WICKET! Buttler c Rahmat Shah b Azmatullah Omarzai 38 (England 216-5)
Here’s the twist! Buttler tries to flay an Azmatullah short ball to the fence for six but a top edge sees him caught in the deep! Big wicket. I repeat BIG WICKET.
36th over: England 214-4 (Root 83, Buttler 37) Rashid Khan puts the squeeze on, rattling through his first five balls for just two runs. Pressure cooker hissing a little in England’s ear. Cometh the moment, cometh the Root – Khan drops short and Root slaps away for four like an 80s bass player.
35th over: England 208-4 (Root 78, Buttler 36) Azmatullah replaces a limping Farooqi in the attack and sends down a probing over, just five runs off it.
This is lovely from Julian Menz in the OBO mailbag:
“Cricket is a truly magnificent yet singular sport. Once you’re reeled in you’re stuck, trapped in its web. From the time you first delve into the kitbag as a kid, the fragrance of willow, linseed oil, leather, trying to fasten pads far too large, sharing a sweaty box (yes, I was a kid in the 70s/early 80s, no snide remarks please). I’m a football fan too, and you can relate to most people in most countries on that level. I have spent many years in Germany and Sweden though. My daughter and Swedish family still wonder why dad is listening to TMS, and I still have to explain that cricket is not croquet. Following the game in the wilds of Sweden now on the OBO. England look to be down and out, but thanks for the good work.”
Thank you, Julian.
Are we going to see an all timer fifty over match here? Today’s Spin column is neatly timed if so:
34th over: England 203-4 (Root 76, Buttler 34) Rashid Khan nearly sneaks one through Root but the batter jams his bat down at the last to keep his castle in tact. We go again. Six off the over sees England’s 200 up.
England lost Duckett in the first over after the first drinks break. Rashid Khan is going to see if he can strike after the second slurp of electrolytes is over and done with.
33rd over: England 197-4 (Root 74, Buttler 30) Seven runs off the over, Joe Root is still there, accumulating with his usual class. If he stays there then England win this. I suspect this game has a few further twists and turns yet though. The players take drinks. England 129 from 17 overs. Afghanistan need to stop them getting there or take six more wickets.
32nd over: England 190-4 (Root 71, Buttler 26) One brings two! Buttler slogs Nabi into the stands at cow corner for SIX. That brings up the fifty partnership between Root and Buttler. England need 136 more runs. Don’t go anywhere.
31st over: England 181-4 (Root 69, Buttler 19) Root follows up the first six of the innings with a punch through cover for four. England coming to life after overs and overs of nervy dormancy.
30th over: England 172-4 (Root 61, Buttler 18) Buttler is cutting a haunted figure at the crease and decides to stick two fingers up to the monkey and his back and the demons in his head by smearing Nabi into the stands! That might be the moment it clicks, good footwork and execution. This is scintillating/excruciating to watch.
29th over: England 163-4 (Root 59, Buttler 11) Noor nearly cleans Buttler up with one that skids on! How much more of this can you take?!
28th over: England 160-4 (Root 57, Buttler 11) That was so close for Jos Buttler. So, so close.
Has Umpire Joel Wilson just saved Jos Buttler’s captaincy career? Or just prolonged the agony for a few overs more? Buttler looked to work Nabi into the leg side but missed and the bowler and his teammates put in a world class appeal but Wilson says no! Buttler even looks guilty but the DRS has the ball clipping the stumps and so the on field decision stands. What’s that cricketing expression? Oh yeh – ‘By the barest of margins!’
27th over: England 153-4 (Root 52, Buttler 9) It is extremely tense out there, I can feel it all the way from Lahore to London. Ever been through Clapham Junction train station at rush hour on Monday morning? Similar vibe to that. Probably less of a whiff of three day old sausage rolls out in the middle though.
26th over: England 151-4 (Root 51, Buttler 8) Joe Root, England’s Mr Consistent, goes to his 46th ODI half century with a single off Khan. He hasn’t hit a ODI century since the 2019 World Cup, he’ll probably need to today if England are to stay in this tournament. Head down then, Joe.
25th over: England 147-4 (Root 49, Buttler 6) Noor continues with his left arm darts, five singles off the over as England work the singles. England need 179 from the remaining 25 overs. Sounds quite a lot that at the moment.
24th over: England 142-4 (Root 46, Buttler 4) Root and Buttler are extremely watchful, playing Khan off the back foot. You could cut the tension with a fishing rod.
23rd over: England 137-4 (Root 44, Buttler 1) Rashid Khan has Buttler on toast five times in the 78 balls he’s bowled to him. I’m sure we’ll see him come back for a burst in a second or two. Noor continues for the time being and skids one past Buttler’s edge!
I wonder what Buttler, if anything, Buttler has written on the top of his bat handle…? Suggestions welcome. Here comes Rashid Khan.
22nd over: England 135-4 (Root 43, Buttler 1) Nervy times at the crease for England. Buttler takes his guard and taps down to long leg to get off the mark. Root returns the favour off the last ball of the over. Buttler will be on strike for the next. Time for a captain’s innings Jos?
WICKET! Harry Brook c & b Mohammad Nabi 25 (England 133-4)
Harry Brook what’ve you done?! He’s looked in sublime form for his first 20 balls but gives it away with a soft tap back to the over off a nondescript delivery. Gah. That lumps a lot of pressure onto Root and the incoming Jos Buttler. Nabi can’t believe his luck.
21st over: England 131-3 (Root 41, Brook 24) Change of overs for Noor but he fluffs his lines at the end of a decent over by flinging down a full bunger that Root slaps behind square for four.
20th over: England 124-3 (Root 36, Brook 22) Nabi is recalled after a short reprieve and does a job of tightening up the run rate for Afghanistan.
19th over: England 120-3 (Root 35, Brook 19) John Starbuck is clearly angling for a role in McCullum’s entourage… “Jim, it’s clear that all batters should aim to play out a maiden immediately after a drinks break. One for the coaches?”
Harry Brook don’t have maidens (or Georgia) on his mind as he drives Khan superbly for four. Khan has the wicket of Duckett in his back pocket but he is leaking a few too many runs at the moment, ten off his latest.
18th over: England 110-3 (Root 34, Brook 10) More Swiss clock timing from Brook as he guides another four behind point and Noor Ahmad’s first over goes for eight runs.
17th over: England 103-3 (Root 32, Brook 4) England need new man Harry Brook at his best in Lahore right here, right now. That’ll do – Brook opens the face and glides his first ball away past point for four. Rashid Khan’s snare of Duckett takes him to 199 ODI wickets.
WICKET! Duckett lbw b Rashid Khan 38 (England 98-3)
The big wicket! Duckett is pinned LBW deep in his crease in the first over after drinks. Umpire Rod Tucker said no but the bowler is adamant they send it upstairs. With good reason – pitched in line and was smashing middle stump half way up. Duckett has to go and pressure right back on England.
16th over: England 97-2 (Duckett 38, Root 32) England tick over to drinks. An intriguing first hour of the chase. Honours about even I reckon.
15th over: England 93-2 (Duckett 36, Root 30) Rashid Khan is still a little too short and Root and Duckett clip and nudge four runs off the first five balls. Khan wants to get out of the over cheaply but can’t as another short ball is dabbed away with aplomb by Root, in the gap and timed for four.
14th over: England 85-2 (Duckett 32, Root 25) A subdued atmosphere for the first time in the field for Afghanistan after the drop. Five added from the over as the partnership grows tentatively, as do England’s hopes.
Duckett is DROPPED at mid off! That could be a huge moment in the game as Shahidi spills a simple chance off the leading edge. Farooqi cannot believe it. That would have been England’s danger man back in the sheds.
13th over: England 80-2 (Duckett 30, Root 24) A loud cheer goes around the ground as Rashid Khan is announced over the Tannoy (brand name). Duckett swivels and times to perfection to beat the man on the square leg boundary. Khan zips the ball on but is a smidge too short and England are able to sit back and work into the gaps. Fifty partnership up off forty balls.
12th over: England 70-2 (Duckett 24, Root 20) Farooqi stitches together a neat over, mixing between full pace, slower balls and cutters to restrict England to just two singles.
11th over: England 68-2 (Duckett 23, Root 19) Four singles off Nabi and then some clever batting from Root, the fielder is moved fine at deep third before the final ball and Root immediately finds the gap with a reverse-sweep. Cat and mouse stuff in Lahore.
10th over: England 60-2 (Duckett 20, Root 13) Shot! Duckett drives on the up for four but Azmatullah nearly has the last laugh, running his fingers down the seam to take the pace off and foxing the pint-sized opener. Duckett is too early on the shot and almost plinks a simple catch to mid-on. That’s the powerplay done and dusted. Afghanistan can begin to put a bit more of a squeeze on with the fielding restrictions lifted.
9th over: England 54-2 (Duckett 15, Root 13) England hit back through Root and Duckett. The latter clubs a drive over mid on to get four off Nabi and then cuts for a single to bring up England’s fifty. Root then plays a delicious reverse-paddle for four more past fine leg. 326 still feels a long way away, these two need to build a sizeable partnership. Do I get a KLANG on the ‘obvious cymbal’?
8th over: England 43-2 (Duckett 7, Root 9) Root provides some more much needed relief for England by pinging Azmatullah off his pads for four.
7th over: England 39-2 (Duckett 7, Root 5) Nabi is looking to skid the ball into the pads and stumps. The win-predictor is now 87% in Afghanistan’s favour. Root hangs back and punches for four in fine style and takes a few deep breaths. A single to midwicket brings Duckett on strike.
Eeeesht! Nabi nearly has two wickets in over as Duckett lines up a slap through the off side but Nabi follows him as he backs away and the ball misses everything! Beats the keeper too and England get four extras. Deep breaths all round if you are an England supporter! Or try not to breathe at all. Quite hard that one, Michael Stipe.