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Key occasions
WICKET! Williams b Bashir 25 (Zimbabwe 156-3)
From nothing! That basically was tender from Williams. Having simply nailed a sweep shot for 4 in entrance of sq., he’s pushed again by Bashir’s arm ball and a nothing prod away from his pads catches an inside edge. The stumps are rattled behind him, Bashir celebrates and Williams trudges off furious with himself.
thirty second over: Zimbabwe 152-2 (Bennett 80, Williams 21) Cook dinner continues around the wicket to the left hander. He’s trying to land one round center and off and get it to carry it’s line. He’s form of doing that. Undoubtedly testing the strategy of Williams. A uncommon drag down is whipped away to lengthy leg for a single to shut the over. Surprise if Stokes will come on for a burst in some unspecified time in the future?
thirty first over: Zimbabwe 151-2 (Bennett 80, Williams 20) Bashir is struggling to land the ball on a constant spot. A floater that’s over pitched is half-driven straight to Tongue at backward level, however the bowler makes a meal of it and the Bennett collects three. Then two drag downs, to both batter, prices 5 runs. The place Williams crunched his minimize straight to the sweeper, Bennett picks an enormous hole. Bashir then overcompensates and Bennett nails a sweep shot for an additional 4. Liquorice allsorts there from England’s spinner in an over value 12.
That’ll be drinks and never a second too quickly. Stokes must get his boys to modify on.
thirtieth over: Zimbabwe (Bennett 69, Williams 19) Williams is a busy batter. Two boundaries – one clipped off his pads, one other steered off the again foot to backward level’s proper – provides eight to his tally. Let you know what, Zimbabwe’s batters are holding their very own. England are going to should dig deep right here.
twenty ninth over: Zimbabwe 131-2 (Bennett 69, Williams 11) Williams is adamant on sweeping and nearly edges again onto his stumps. I suppose it’s labored as Bashir loses his size, dragging one down so Williams cuts laborious to the fielder within the deep. Simply the one of that one.
twenty eighth over: Zimbabwe 129-2 (Bennett 68, Williams 10) Cook dinner is on the cash instantly. Nagging size, hovering across the prime of off, he has Bennett observe one which jags away. Fortunate to not get a nick on that. He does nick the following ball from the entrance foot however it flies between second slip and gully. Stokes can’t consider it. Bennett squeezes a single behind sq. to rise up to security. Good return from Cook dinner.
twenty seventh over: Zimbabwe 124-2 (Bennett, Williams 10) Bashir from around the wicket to left-handed Williams has settled on a tidy line round off-stump. Williams seems desirous to hit him off that spot, first attempting to chop a straight-ish ball then sweeping one which seemed a contact too full to take action. He survives and Bashir closes with a maiden.
Seems like Cook dinner will exchange Tongue from the Stuart Broad finish.
twenty sixth over: Zimbabwe 124-2 (Bennett 63, Williams 10) Bennett is within the groove. After getting squared up by a jaffa from Tongue, the fitting hander crunches a pull shot behind sq. after which leans on a textbook excellent on drive. He seems dialled in right here.
twenty fifth over: Zimbabwe 116-2 (Bennett 55, Williams 10) Bashir is giving it a little bit of air – I prefer it – and welcoming the right-hander Bennett to drive. He does so and will get two to the fitting of the sweeper within the deep after which picks out the person at quick additional. A single brings Williams on strike who ends the set with a neat clip off the again foot for 4 all the way down to wonderful leg.
twenty fourth over: Zimbabwe 109-2 (Bennett 52, Williams 6) Thanks Jim. Stellar effort as at all times. Hiya everybody. Effectively that is fairly tidy from Zimbabwe, isn’t it?
Bennett reaches his 50 with a scrumptious cowl drive for 4 from Tongue’s half-] volley. Williams punches for 2 and the pair of them gather a single every.
James Wallace
twenty third over: Zimbabwe 100-2 (Bennett 46, Williams 3) Zimbabwe carry up their hundred and the three figures are cheered heartily by their full voiced followers inside Trent Bridge.
Don’t cheer fairly so heartily however I’m off for an early bathtub and Daniel Gallan is easing himself into the OBO armchair for the afternoon. Thanks on your firm and feedback, ta-ra!
twenty second over: Zimbabwe 99-2 (Bennett 46, Williams 3) Tongue is working across the excessive 80 mph mark and ouchy that’s nasty! A brief ball is ducked into by Williams because the batter turned his head on the final minute. There’s a delay while he’s checked over and his helmet is swapped however he’s good to proceed. Tongue follows up with a full ball on the stump however the batter is the same as it, getting ahead and blocking away into the off aspect.
twenty first over: Zimbabwe 97-2 (Bennett 46, Williams 1) Sean Williams is the brand new batter and is off the mark with a poke all the way down to mid-on. Bashir has bowled nicely up to now at present, he had one over the place he was carted about however has settled down nicely. A prolonged spell and some wickets will do him the world of excellent.
WICKET! Craig Ervine c Brook b Shoaib Bashir 42 (Zimbabwe 96-2)
From nowhere Shoaib Bashir produces a magnificence that pitches and spits throughout Craig Ervine, taking the sting of his defensive stroke and simply carrying to Harry Brook at slip who takes a pointy low catch. Bashir is mobbed by his teammates and has one thing of a relieved smile on his face. It was a extremely pretty supply.
twentieth over: Zimbabwe 96-1 (Bennett 46, Ervine 42) Tongue takes Ervine’s edge however it flies within the vacant third slip area and away for 4. A great supply that’s adopted up by a bouncer that’s too steep and known as a large. Stuart Broad flippantly chastises from the commentary field, saying that you simply shouldn’t let the strain dissipate with that subsequent ball after an opportunity. England’s bowling assault could be very inexperienced, If Zimbabwe can repel them for many of this afternoon session then they could nicely begin to get a bit twitchy.
nineteenth over: Zimbabwe 91-1 (Bennett 46, Ervine 37) Twelve runs off the over as Bennett will get maintain of Bashir! Tossed up and thrashed away, Ben Stokes retains his fielders in and encourages however the subsequent is smeared away too. A Ben Duckett mis-field turns a one into three, Zimbabwe have began the brighter of the 2 sides after the lunch break.
18th over: Zimbabwe 79-1 (Bennett 37, Ervine 34) Tongue bustles to the crease, his pace is as much as 87MPH however it’s no mither for Ervine who punches sq. off the again foot for a elegant 4. Zimbabwe have been spectacular with the bat, this partnership edges in direction of fifty.
seventeenth over: Zimbabwe 70-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 27) A maiden to begin after lunch and Shoaib Bashir offers it a bit extra air, flighting a pair up above the eyes whereas he was darting them in earlier than lunch. Nerves settling maybe. Tidy over, it’ll be Josh Tongue to proceed from the Stuart Broad Finish.
The gamers emerge for the afternoon session. Solar shining down brightly at Trent Bridge, pretty situations to bat. Can Zimbabwe chip away at England’s whole and frustrate Ben Stokes and his bowlers. They want 19 extra wickets and there’s climate about tomorrow. Let’s play.
Lunchtime Studying:
Lunch – Zimbabwe 73-1 (path by 492)
Tongue seems threatening however Zimbabwe make it to lunch only one wicket down and runs have come at a good outdated lick. The guests have had a beter morning after a troublesome day yesterday – taking three wickets and attending to 73 for the lack of simply Ben Curran who Sam Cook dinner pocketed for his maiden Check wicket.
fifteenth over: Zimbabwe 70-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 27) Bashir rattles by a fast over, not a lot flight however pushing the ball by onto a probing spot on off stump. Only a single clipped off it to Ervine. We’ll have yet another from Josh Tongue earlier than lunch.
14th over: Zimbabwe 69-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 26) A meatily moustachioed Tongue bustles in, he’s a strapping lad and appears extraordinarily awkward to face. Nice to see him again in an England shirt too, he’s had a extremely tough time with accidents in his profession. He seems zippy from the off, getting Ervine to hop about and discovering the within edge which loops simply extensive of a diving Harry Brook at gully. Good begin from the Notts seamer on his residence floor.
thirteenth over: Zimbabwe 64-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 21) Gah! Bashir begins with a full toss and is flogged away for 4 by a gleeful Ervine. The remainder of the over is on the button although and there’s a touch of flip. It’s going to be a double change – Josh Tongue has been summoned by Ben Stokes.
twelfth over: Zimbabwe 59-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 16) Atkinson spears one in and it lefts previous the sting of Bennett’s swishing blade. We’re going to have an early have a look at Shoaib Bashir… he wants some wickets having solely taken two all season, every has value loads. He acquired 49 wickets final yr in Check cricket and England have caught with him.
eleventh over: Zimbabwe 58-1 (Bennett 36, Ervine 15) Cook dinner practically cleans Bennett up with an in-swinger that darts again late, the within edge then evades a diving Jamie Smith down the leg aspect. Don’t point out Mr Foakes…
“Excited to get an early have a look at Sam Cook dinner, though delays the inevitable commentary spotlight of this Summer time… “And a change is gonna come on the Pavilion finish, it’s Sam Cook dinner” I’ll see myself out – an apologetic Dan Shepherd in Dubai.”
It has not been a very long time coming Dan, Michael Atherton has already dropped it in on the TV commentary. Go on then…
tenth over: Zimbabwe 54-1 (Bennett 32, Ervine 15) Atherton and Butcher focus on the deserves of Woakes, Cook dinner and Potts and whether or not you could possibly play two of them in the identical crew. With Wooden, Archer, Stone and Woakes injured and Stokes getting back from that unhealthy hamstring tear England want all of the bowlers they will get their palms on for the time being. Matt Potts would possibly really feel aggrieved to overlook out right here however I feel he’ll get his likelihood in some unspecified time in the future this summer season.
ninth over: Zimbabwe 52-1 (Bennett 31, Ervine 14) Cook dinner is pushed by Bennett by cowl for 3 extra. This would be the debate that rages with Sam Cook dinner – as a result of his tempo is across the late 70s/early 80s mark on the pace gun the quick ball isn’t an excessive amount of of a risk and batters will really feel like they will get on the entrance foot with out fearing they’re going to get clonked on the helmet. Cook dinner has clearly discovered a means together with his talent and accuracy and bowled rather well for the Lions in Australia over the winter, there’s a hazard he seems a bit innocuous on flatter surfaces although.
eighth over: Zimbabwe 48-1 (Bennett 28, Ervine 13) Atkinson pushed off the again foot by Bennett for 3 and Ervine follows swimsuit with a pair down the bottom. I ponder if we would see Josh Tongue for a burst earlier than lunch, there’s about 25 minutes til the interval.
seventh over: Zimbabwe 43-1 (Bennett 24, Ervine 7) The dichotomy of Sam Cook dinner. He bowls too full and it fairly floats onto the bat of Ervine who has loads of time to get on the entrance foot and drive away by cowl for 4. The very subsequent ball is a magnificence although, pitching and leaving the batter on off stump.
sixth over: Zimbabwe 38-1 (Bennett 24, Ervine 7) Gus Atkinson hasn’t settled into his groove simply but up to now this morning, he offers Ervine width and is flogged by level for 4.
fifth over: Zimbabwe 34-1 (Bennett 24, Ervine 3) Craig Ervine is the brand new batter and he’s off the mark with a prod into the off-side. Sam Cook dinner takes his cap and heads all the way down to wonderful leg the place he will get a beautiful reception.
WICKET! Ben Curran c Brook b Cook dinner 6 (Zimbabwe 31-1)
There’s the primary Check wicket for Sam Cook dinner! Pretty ball and one which he has despatched down 1000’s of occasions for Essex. Hitting a spot on off stuff and jagging away simply sufficient to take the sting of Ben Curran’s bat as he turned his bat on it barely. Cook dinner celebrates with abandon, loads of nervous vitality and reduction in his double fist pumps! What a second for him, one he’ll have dreamt about for years. England have their first.
4th over: Zimbabwe 31-0 (Bennett 24, Curran 6) One other fruitful over for Zimbabwe – Curran collects two with a clip off his toes by midwicket after which drives for 3 down the bottom. Atkinson is a bit too extensive outdoors off stump and Brian Bennett doesn’t want a second invitation, he flays away behind level for his sixth boundary.
third over: Zimbabwe 22-0 (Bennett 20, Curran 1) “Including to the center initials riff” writes Mark Lewis. “Absolutely IR Bell should be in with a shout…? It wouldn’t be the OBO with out The Sledgehammer Of Everlasting Justice getting in on the act.”
Tidier over from Sam Cook dinner, a leg bye and 4 dots after which practically a catch to Crawley within the slips from Bennett however it landed a bit quick and ran away for an additional boundary. Sprightly begin from Zimbabwe.
2nd over: Zimbabwe 17-0 (Bennett 16, Curran 1) The ultimate ball of the earlier over was truly a magnificence from Cook dinner. Dragged his size again and acquired the ball to jag off the floor. Indicators that there’s something in it for the seamers.
Gus Atkinson shares the brand new ball – he’s the chief of this inexperienced assault with solely ten months Check expertise. Curran jabs off his hip for single into the leg aspect and Bennett carries on his merry means, carving off the again foot by level for 4.
“Afternoon James, did that declaration rating give anybody else only a frisson of Adelaide 2006? Nonetheless sends a shiver down the backbone…”
IT’S STILL TOO SOON TOM HOPKINS!
1st over: Zimbabwe 12-0 (Bennett 12, Curran 0) Cook dinner is true on the cash together with his first ball, zoning in on off stump. There’s no swing that I can see and Bennett will get an inside edge to a full ball that zips away wonderful for 4 to open Zimbabwe’s account. One other inside edge races away by the leg aspect as Cook dinner is a smidge too full searching for the magic ball first up. Bosh! One other full ball is pushed away by the covers to make it three fours in a row to Bennet – Zimbabwe are chasing this down! Twelve off the primary over, welcome to Check cricket Sam Cook dinner.
Righto, right here comes Sam Cook dinner for his first bowl in Check cricket. He’s earned this opportunity with some exceptional consistency over the previous few years. Brian Bennett and Ben Curran will open up for the guests – let’s play!
So there shall be a couple of minutes break while Zimbabwe strap the pads on. We’ll get a have a look at Sam Cook dinner on debut earlier than lunch.
WICKET! Harry Brook b Muzarabani 58 (England DECLARE on 565-6)
Brook smears Muzarabani for a six and a 4 into the leg aspect to carry up a bludgeoning fifty however then chops on the very subsequent ball. It wasn’t fairly however England gained’t thoughts – Ben Stokes has known as them in!
ninety fifth over: England 555-5 (Brook 48, Smith 4) Jamie Smith clips off his pads for 4 however is then DROPPED by the keeper! Chivanga is a bit hit and miss however he will get it spot on and Smith edges behind solely to be spilled! It was a regulation likelihood and may have been taken.
“L Hutton. H Sutcliffe? They did okay I feel…” emails a droll Peter Wyatt
ninety fifth over: England 548-4 (Brook 45, Smith 0) Jamie Smith is the brand new batter. The fantastic Don McRae did a beautiful interview with him per week or two again. He performs out a dot to his first ball as Blessing has his dander up after pocketing the massive beast. Zimbabwe have bowled a lot better up to now at present.
WICKET! Ben Stokes c Curran b Muzarabani 9 (England 548-5)
Gone! Stokes has been bounced out by Blessing! A brief ball that was nicely directed and seamed to rear late at Stokes’ helmet – he pulled out of the tried hook however too late and the highest edge is extraordinarily nicely caught by Ben Curran at deep third.
94th over: England 545-4 (Brook 43, Stokes 8) Brook performs an audacious higher minimize to a Chivanga quick ball and is DROPPED on the boundary at deep third. Not the very best effort from the sub fielder – the splendidly named Wellington Masakadza. Brook pulverises the following ball for 4 with a rasping minimize shot. He hit that so laborious the fielder barely moved within the deep.
Talking of names, Gareth Wilson drops a missive into the OBO mailbag:
“Hello James- very unhappy to see Zak Crawley has no center preliminary. Won’t ever be an England all timer with out a minimum of a kind of. Suppose IT Botham, GA Gooch, PBH Might and naturally the deliberate MC Cowdrey. Feels unhappy for the younger Crawley to overlook out.”
I’m a no center identify man myself Gareth and that isn’t the one motive I’m not an England nice. My daughter calls center names ‘fiddle names’. Which is kind of cute… they usually can be fiddly. Cherrington anybody?
93rd over: England 531-4 (Brook 31, Stokes 7) Bother in opposition to the quick ball? Pah! Harry Brook smashes a Muzarabani bouncer for SIX into the gang behind sq.… and once more! SIX extra the following ball, barely extra top-edgy however identical consequence.
Brook is ticking, he costs on the subsequent two balls however Muzarabani digs them in at his ft. One other full supply is squirted into the leg aspect and Stokes calls Brook by for a fast single. Excited burbling within the crowd, there would possibly nicely be some catches coming their means within the subsequent hour.
92nd over: England 518-4 (Brook 18, Stokes 7) Apologies I simply noticed there was a typo within the hyperlink for my electronic mail along with the web page – corrected now and you’ll fling me a missive right here.
Harry Brook carves for 4 after which skips down the monitor to loft Chivanga over mid off for an additional. I ponder if Stokes has had just a little phrase in his ear, there may be loads of rain about in Nottingham tomorrow in keeping with the newest forecast. England might want to bowl Zimbabwe out twice in what’s already a shortened sport.
91st over: England 508-4 (Brook 9, Stokes 6) Superb cowl drive from Ben Stokes! That may really feel good. Pitched up and smoked away to the fence.
ninetieth over: England 503-4 (Brook 9, Stokes 1) Stokes will get off the mark with a pleasant clip off his toes. A while within the center will do him the world of excellent too, there was speak he would possibly even play for the Lions within the run as much as the India collection so as to get some rhythm on the crease. Zimbabwe have been a lot better within the two overs this morning, a stat going round states that they greatly surprised fifty per cent of their deliveries down the leg aspect yesterday.
WICKET! Ollie Pope c Tsiga b Chivanga 171 (England 502-4)
Pitched up and a tiny edge! Ollie Pope goes early on day two, taking part in away from his physique at an honest ball from Chivanga. A late evaluate was known as for however the spike was clear for all to see. Trent Bridge offers Pope a hearty ovation after which there’s a loud cheer as Ben Stokes strides out to the center. Shades of Botham as blond whisps of mullet billow out from below Stokes’ helmet as he takes guard.
89th over: England 499-3 (Pope 170, Brook 9) Blessing Muzarabani from the Pavilion Finish. Pope tucks off his hip for the primary run of the day. It seems like Zimbabwe are going to go quick at Harry Brook – there’s been a little bit of chatter about that being a possible weak spot for Brook, particularly early in his innings in opposition to real tempo.
Ooh magnificence! Muzarabani pushes Brook again after which pitches fuller and the ball zips off the floor and carries by at head top to the keeper. Brook was drawn into the stroke and performs and misses. Good, probing first over from the bowler, only one run off it.
Right here come the gamers! Harry Brook and Ollie Pope stride out in stunning sunshine and Zimbabwe’s gamers gird themselves for what might be a troublesome morning. England know there’s a little bit of climate about this weekend and it is just a 4 day Check, they’ll throw the blade this morning on the new ball and press the sport ahead. Buckle up!
Its Sunny. Its Friday. My four-going-on-24-year-old daughter demanded this tune 3 times in a row on the way in which to highschool.
Play is about 5 minutes away at Trent Bridge and certainly across the shires because the County Championship rumbles alongside. Tanya Aldred is on her strategy to Grace Highway as we converse and is helming the CCLive weblog.
And Andy Bull acquired his Theroux on and went for a wander round Trent Bridge:
Simon Burnton has the Crawley angle coated:
Ali’s report from Trent Bridge pleasingly alluded to The Thick of It on a day that was very a lot not troublesome troublesome lemon troublesome for England.
There have been shades of The Thick of It after Ben Stokes gave his press convention a time out from this one-off Check in opposition to Zimbabwe. When the minister – or on this occasion the England captain – mentioned Jacob Bethell can be straight again in for the collection in opposition to India, this apparently referred to the squad and never essentially the XI.
That Stokes sought to make this clarification by the again channels maybe mentioned extra concerning the activity at hand than England’s true ideas on the topic. No captain would ever want to ship a participant out believing no matter they achieved can be irrelevant, particularly not a vice-captain and selfless cricketer corresponding to Ollie Pope.”
Preamble

James Wallace
Effectively, that was brutal.
Hiya and welcome to day two of England v Zimbabwe from Trent Bridge.
England amassed 498 runs yesterday in opposition to an more and more beleaguered Zimbabwe bowling assault who have been left a bowler gentle when Richard Ngarava suffered a possible again spasm and needed to go away the sphere on a golf buggy within the afternoon session. Ben Duckett made a fairly easy century and Zak Crawley spent some a lot wanted time within the center to make his first century in an England shirt since his Previous Trafford magnum opus within the 2023 Ashes.
Ollie Pope then peeled off a slick century that reminded everybody of his skills but additionally gained’t try this a lot to reduce the naysayers who assume he can’t do it in opposition to the massive boys of India and Australia. In opposition to the previous Pope averages 24 and the latter simply 16.
The strawberry blond Surrey man has simply been chatting with Ian Ward on Sky and appeared fairly chilled out, truly, admitting that he doesn’t take heed to the noise and the notion that his place could be below risk from the wunderkind Jacob Bethell. Pope was that exact same wunderkind as soon as, however now has 55 Check matches below his belt and a job as vice captain within the Check aspect. A double ton right here gained’t damage however a rating in within the first Check in opposition to India in June will present loads extra succour.
Play will get underway at 11am – in slightly below half-hour, as ever do drop us a line and tell us how you’re shaping up this Friday morning.