Ollie Pope delivered a outstanding efficiency on the opening day of the third Take a look at in opposition to Sri Lanka at The Kennington Oval, scoring a shocking century that has set the tone for England’s innings. Stepping in as captain for the injured Ben Stokes, Pope’s unbeaten 103 runs off simply 103 balls not solely silenced his critics but in addition marked a big milestone in his profession.
A historic century for Ollie Pope
Pope’s ton was historic for a number of causes. He turned the primary participant in Take a look at historical past to attain his first seven centuries in opposition to seven totally different opponents, showcasing his versatility and skill to carry out throughout numerous matchups. His innings included 13 fours and two sixes, demonstrating his aggressive batting model and command over the Sri Lankan bowlers.
135* vs South Africa
145 vs New Zealand
108 vs Pakistan
205 vs Eire
196 vs India
121 vs West Indies
103* vs Sri LankaOllie Pope: First participant in Take a look at historical past to attain his first seven centuries in opposition to seven totally different groups#ENGvSL #Checks #OlliePope #cricket pic.twitter.com/aeQsPsqDvd
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) September 7, 2024
The 103 runs additionally made Pope the second-fastest England captain to achieve a century in Take a look at cricket, reaching the milestone in simply 102 balls. This feat positioned him simply behind Graham Gooch, who scored a century in 95 balls in opposition to India in 1990.
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England finishes Day 1 on a excessive
Regardless of dealing with difficult situations, together with overcast skies and interruptions on account of rain and poor gentle, England completed the day at a strong 221 for 3. Pope’s partnership with Ben Duckett, who contributed a brisk 86 runs, was essential in constructing a powerful basis for the innings. The duo added 95 runs for the second wicket, successfully countering the early lack of opener Dan Lawrence, who was dismissed for simply 5 runs.
The match noticed vital delays, with play halted for almost three hours on account of climate situations. Nonetheless, Pope and Duckett capitalized on the alternatives they’d, placing Sri Lanka’s bowlers beneath strain. Lahiru Kumara was the choose of the bowlers for Sri Lanka, taking 2 wickets for 81 runs, together with the dismissals of Lawrence and Joe Root.
Because the second day approaches, England will look to construct on their sturdy begin, with Pope and Harry Brook, who was 8 not out on the shut of play, on the crease. With the collection presently in England’s favour at 2-0, the workforce goals for a clear sweep, a feat they haven’t achieved in 20 years.
