A BIG Irish battle back after HAND collapse FOR LEWIS
GARY Wilson praised Ireland’s openers for displaying “big balls” after following on against Pakistan, having shown serious courage himself in making an unbeaten 33 despite a possible fracture in his elbow.
The Irish face a fight to avoid a heavy loss in their inaugural Test after the tourists ripped through their top order, eventually dismissing them inside 48 overs for 130, 180 behind Pakistan’s 310 for nine declared.
However, they had moved within 116 runs of that total with all 10 second-innings wickets still in hand at stumps on day three thanks to Ed Joyce and William Porterfield’s unbroken stand of 64.
“We’re (less than) 120 behind, we know we’re going to have to bat really well but I think the two lads showed at the end there that it’s definitely possible,” Wilson said.
“It looked like Pakistan maybe had the ball reversing slightly towards the end. If they’re trying to get the ball reversing, they obviously think there’s enough in the wicket for the batters. That’s definitely a plus point for us.
“We know again the first hour, first session tomorrow is going to be really key to try and set the game up for us.”
Nobody showed more guts than Wilson, who was unable to field in the morning having been struck on the back of the elbow in the warm-up.
The 33-year-old returned from hospital hoping to avoid batting on Sunday, but with Ireland slumping from seven for four to 61 for six, Wilson came in down the order at nine after taking painkillers. LEWIS HAMILTON stormed to victory in Barcelona then warned his rivals – there’s plenty more to come.
The defending champion led from pole to flag, winning by a massive 20-second margin after a lightning-fast start.
And with Ferrari making an error of judgement by bringing Sebastian Vettel in for two pit stops instead of one, Hamilton stretched his title lead over the German to 17 points.
As he celebrated victory – and a Mercedes one-two, with team-mate Valtteri Bottas runner-up – Hamilton gave the rest of the grid something to worry about by revealing he is almost back to last year’s triumphant form.
He said: “It felt special, it felt strong. We got qualifying right yesterday.
“Once I got going and got a good start, after that no one had the pace to keep up with me and I was pulling away at a second a lap. Today was the closest I’ve been.
“There were still areas that were not quite perfect, but this is the closest to how I was last year in terms of being comfortable with the car.
“Ferrari made a mistake with their strategy, but to get a onetwo is really hard to do.
“I couldn’t have done it without this incredible team, I’m really proud of everyone.
“I felt this synergy with the car and I hadn’t felt that this season. This is when we are going to start applying some pressure.
“I hope we can continue. The fans have been incredible, as they always are here.
“We have got our Mercedes board with us this weekend.
“They have supported us from day one, so it is great to have them all here and see that full force and strength in depth within the team.”
In a race that saw a safety car out on the first lap for a big crash involving Romain Grosjean, Pierre Gasly and Nico Hulkenberg, Hamilton steered clear of trouble and had a simple message for his team from the cockpit.
“This is more like it,” he told them. “Keep this up.”
Max Verstappen cashed in on Ferrari’s mistake to claim the final podium position alongside Hamilton and Bottas – despite driving into the back of Lance Stroll under the virtual safety car.
Vettel, who finished fourth, was frustrated but happy not to have lost more ground.
The Ferrari ace said: “It was not an option to stay out.
“It obviously looks wrong but from the inside it was the right thing to do. Overall it has been a decent weekend, we just need to understand what to do with these tyres.”
Hamilton, however, had a magnificent weekend and seems to be stepping up a gear at just the right time.
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