LONDON: Interim England captain Ollie Pope on Friday, made history as he became the first batter in the 147-year history of Test cricket to score his first seven centuries against different oppositions.
Pope created history in the first innings of England’s third Test against Sri Lanka by smashing his maiden Test century at his home ground – The Oval, where he averages 80 in First-class cricket.
His previous Test centuries came against South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, India and the West Indies.
This was also his first hundred as England Test captain as he is filling in the void for injured Ben Stokes in the ongoing series.
Ollie Pope was under severe criticism over his string of failures, managing just 30 runs in his last four innings but made the most of his home-ground advantage and answered the critics.
His unbeaten run-a-ball 103 powered England to 221/3 on a rain-interrupted opening day of the third Test against Sri Lanka.
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Sri Lanka, already 2-0 down in the three-match series, failed to make the most out of the overcast conditions and a grassy pitch after skipper Dhananjaya de Silva won the toss and put England into bat.
Left-handed opener Ben Duckett provided the home side a rampant start but failed to convert his sensational knock into a century as he fell agonizingly short by just 14 runs. He scored 86 off just, hitting nine fours and two sixes.
Experienced batter Joe Root, who has been in red-hot form, had a rare failure as he managed just 13 before falling victim to Lahiru Kumara.
England dominated the day mostly due to the second-wicket partnership between Duckett and Pope.
The duo frustrated Sri Lanka bowlers and added 95 runs to the total until Milan Rathnayake dismissed Duckett.
Ollie Pope, unbeaten with a run-a-ball 103, will now resume England’s first innings from
221/3 on the second day of the match with Harry Brook, who had scored eight not out.