Ollie Pope made a timely return to form bringing up his seventh century for England to inject a spark into an otherwise gloomy first day of the third Test at The Kia Oval.
Pope (103no) ensured the fans who had waited patiently through the rain delay were entertained as he brought up his milestone, the first on his home ground, with boundary guided in front of point.
After losing the toss and being made to bat first in the final Test of the three-match series, the hosts were reduced to 76-1 before bad light and rain forced an early lunch at 12.40pm. Opener Ben Duckett (86) offered the most resistance with his tenth half-century after his counterpart Dan Lawrence (5) was removed in the tenth over.
When play resumed at 3.10pm, Duckett and Pope motored England past 100 before the former was dismissed scooping Milan Rathnayake (1-34) behind to Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal to leave the hosts 140-2.
Joe Root added 13 to England’s tally but was prematurely dismissed after he top-edged Lahiru Kumara (2-81) to fine leg where Vishwa Fernando safely took the catch despite a stumble.
Pope’s enterprising knock was forced to a halt at 5.55pm after bad light once again frustrated England’s innings, forcing the players off with Pope’s side on a commanding 221-3 before play was abandoned at 6.29pm.
More to follow…
Watch day two of the third and final Test between England and Sri Lanka at Lord’s, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.15am on Saturday September 7 (first ball, 11am).
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Source : Sky Sports
