2024-09-08 01:16:39
Oval: Ben Duckett missed out on a century against Sri Lanka on the first day of the rain-affected third and final Test here on Friday, while Ollie Pope played a strong innings of 103 runs. England’s score was 194 for three at tea at The Oval. At the end of the first day’s play, Pope, who was leading the team in place of captain Ben Stokes, was unbeaten on 84 runs while Harry Brook had not opened his account yet. Duckett played an entertaining innings of 86 runs in which he hit nine fours and two sixes. But while trying to play a high shot on Milan Ratnayake’s ball, he was caught out by wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.
England have already won the series by winning the first two Tests at Old Trafford and Lord’s. Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl under cloudy skies. England lost the wicket of Dan Lawrence (05) early after which the game was stopped due to poor light. Then Duckett completed his 10th half-century in 48 balls. Joe Root (13) was out shortly before tea.
Captain Ollie Pope hit a strong century
Ollie Pope, who is captaining the England cricket team in the absence of Ben Stokes, scored a strong century. He is playing unbeaten on 103 runs till the end of the first day. Pope batted at a strike rate of 100 and hit 13 fours and 2 sixes. Ollie Pope has represented England only in Test cricket so far. He has scored 2720 runs at an average of 34 in 48 Test matches played so far. During this, 6 centuries and 13 half-centuries have been seen from his bat. Let us tell you that the team’s regular captain Ben Stokes was injured while playing in The Hundred last month.