Ollie Pope Shines with Century on Disrupted First Day of Test

Ollie Pope the stand-in captain, silenced his critics with a brilliant century on the truncated first day of England’s third Test against Sri Lanka at The Kia Oval. Replacing the injured Ben Stokes, Pope who had struggled with just 30 runs in the first two Tests, scored an unbeaten 103 and guided England to a strong position at 221-3. Persistent bad light and rain delays marred the day with the floodlights remaining on throughout.

Pope’s century provided a much-needed boost for England, who had lost the toss and faced bowling-friendly conditions. Despite Sri Lanka’s four-man seam attack, they failed to capitalize, and Pope seized the opportunity. He shared a 95-run partnership with Ben Duckett, who scored 86 from 79 balls and added 51 with Joe Root, who contributed 13.

The play halted twice, once for nearly three hours due to poor visibility but Ollie Pope continued to shine with his impressive innings. He reached his century from 102 balls, making it the second-fastest by an England captain behind Graham Gooch’s 95-ball effort. Pope also set a record as the first batter to score his first seven hundreds against seven different opponents.

Duckett’s aggressive start set the tone but Dan Lawrence struggled contributing only five runs before falling to Lahiru Kumara. Sri Lanka’s poor performance included inadequate bowling and fielding errors. Pope’s display at The Oval where he averages 81 in first-class cricket, reaffirmed his talent and provided England with a solid foundation.

Former England captains Sir Alastair Cook and Michael Vaughan praised Pope’s performance, highlighting his improved control and ability to capitalize on Sri Lanka’s mistakes. Despite previous doubts, Pope’s innings showcased his potential and solidified his role in the team.