Irish Cricket 2023

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120527041#Comment_120527041

Shows a level of disdain for us so, it's a team game - no reason to just bat on and let Mathews get his ton other than ego. Hope it backfires on them and they run short of time tomorrow.

KevIRL

Is there any case for protecting wickets this evening but go out and have a belt tomorrow to try get a win?

KevIRL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120527172#Comment_120527172

DOH. Ignore

VillaMad

Prabath Jayasuriya is causing all sort of problems already from his first two overs.

McCollum gone. It had been coming. Spin at both ends.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120527190#Comment_120527190

We haven't a hope in hell of bowling them out quickly, if at all on the basis of evidence these two tests :)

We should be fighting tooth & nail for a draw. Moor swipes two sixes and is gone.

Doodah7

Sri Lanka post a total in the top 25 highest of all time for only three down and given that Ireland racked up nearly 500, the wicket must be a complete road!

Naturally we will bottle it tomorrow and lose by ten wickets.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120527375#Comment_120527375

Brain dead. You’d wonder why the coaches didn’t say to the players the obvious… “ you cannot win this test, it’s absolutely 10000% physically impossible, no stupid shît , just play deliveries on their merits, bat / play with a draw in mind…get a result. Hitting sixes or going arial or trying will get you out, or get you nothing, an Ireland win is impossible… so why trying to hit it in the air ? Like having 3 hours to drive 5 kilometres and going 40 over the limit… bizarre cricket

Sri Lanka 704/3 … the 24th highest test total of all time. To score that many and only loosing 3 wickets…

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283966.html

EveryoneKnowsNobodyCares

I'm pretty sure too it's the third highest score with three wickets still standing. In 1997 Sri Lanka were on 790 when they lost their fourth wicket against India, and in 2006 they were on 751 when they lost their fourth wicket against South Africa.

EveryoneKnowsNobodyCares

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120528362#Comment_120528362

To clarify, it's not just Sri Lanka's greatest scores with 7 wickets still in hand, it's out of everyone. They have the top three scores. But it doesn't include if someone went, say, 800/2d.

Royale with Cheese

Well, at least Ireland didn't declare in the first innings like some commentators thought they should.

Mysterypunter

Tough one to save from here, but loads of batting and a decent wicket, so still a good chance of a draw, 704/3 is crazy, like a score from years ago when the County teams played the universitys

EveryoneKnowsNobodyCares

Here's a mad idea. What if Ireland did try to increase their total, just in case they do get all out? Then Sri Lanka would still have to chase some sort of a target, and they might run out of time. Or would that be plain suicidal?

EveryoneKnowsNobodyCares

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120528505#Comment_120528505

I was wrong; in addition, West Indies declared on 790/3 against Pakistan in 1958, and Sri Lanka declared on 713/3 against Zimbabwe in 2004. There could be more but it's unlikely.

Guildenstern

It's all going south. 5 down already and we haven't even got to lunch. Really thought we stood a good chance of a draw.

Not many who post almost 500 in a first innings and go onto to lose but we can be added to that stat.

Hoping for a nice mid wicket stand and a bit of rain. Anything.

Mysterypunter

Struggling at 112/5, but the overnight batsmen are both not out, strange one, Balbirnie was hit by a ball and retired hurt, then Stirling (1), Tucker (13) and Campher (12) were all dismissed before Balbernie resumed and rejoined Harry Tector who is 27* Balbirnie 28* and trailing by 100

Mysterypunter

Balbirnie out for 46, bad shot 143/6, 69 behind, Tector still batting, need to get in front and bat on.

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530678#Comment_120530678

Timewise, what is end time to survive to?

Mysterypunter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530703#Comment_120530703

There are 57 overs left, but if they take another 20 to get in front, there will be 2 deducted for the change of innings, and there is also a possibility of bad light later, say they bat 40 overs and score 100, they could have a lead and time will be running out. Hopefully keep at it for now

Mysterypunter

Mcbrine out now, all down to Tector because there are only 3 rabbits left, looking grim 159/7

Mysterypunter

Hume out for a duck, just stood there and waited to die, should have thrown the bat, might get a lead then, 161/8, crumbling again

wicorthered

All ending in a bit of a wimper!

Mysterypunter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530769#Comment_120530769

Tector still there, not done yet

EveryoneKnowsNobodyCares

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530767#Comment_120530767

It's the edge that got Hume out that's perplexing me (and I couldn't even see it in the replay). I don't watch much cricket, so in order to just defend wickets and not worry about scoring runs, wouldn't it be better to just angle the bat to deflect every ball, every single ball, into the ground and just stand your ground? What's the risk?

Mysterypunter

Like flies heading for a spiders web, text Tector couldn't get a single or a boundary, the tail enders will end up facing too many balls, pity but the top order failed again, and the bowlers went at a crazy run rate, I'm still hoping for a draw, but not likely

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530205#Comment_120530205

Redundant now, but that scenario would have been a draw. We'd have to take all 10 SL wickets to win before they passed our lead or time ran out. It's not like limited overs cricket. That's why we were in a very weak position and the only possible tactic was to bat resolutely for an honourable draw.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530531#Comment_120530531

Disappointing alright, despite building a few timely partnerships in the 1st innings, we're just falling now and there's nowhere to hide.

I suppose positives from this match are our 1st innings total and Harry Tector's resolve in this innings. Balbirnie batted well overall but unnecessary shot lost him his wicket a while back. And he's the captain and must have seen the need to just stay put.

Negatives are our bowling, little penetration of threat and the SL bowlers are showing that's not just down to the wicket.

You'd have thought that a near 500 total in our first innings was giving us a chance of a victory and the great likelihood of a draw, but sadly no.

The most telling part I thought was SL choosing to bat on yesterday just so Mathews could pick up another ton. They knew the measure of us and that they could take their time. Not over yet of course but it'd be great escape of all time to get out of this one.

Mysterypunter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530803#Comment_120530803

It's a one or the other situation, you don't defend with the edge of the bat, play straight and defend with the full face, it's about positive intent, you have to be positive in defense as well as attack, Tector on the charge now, trying to establish a lead, defecit now only 25

KevIRL

Tector seems determined to make SL bat again

Mysterypunter

Sad end

Conchir

Well that was tough. I don’t know if anyone had an innings loss on their bingo card after we posted 492 in the first.

riffmongous

How many teams almost hit 500 and then go on to lose by an innings?