3rd Test
Day-1 Afternoon Session Highlights:
Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope has propelled the England team ahead in the second session
At The Tea of Day-1:
England scored 191/3 vs Sri Lanka.
Ben Duckett (86 off 75) and Ollie Pope (84* off 85) produced counterattacking innings to propel England forward during the afternoon session on the first day of the final Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval.
A steady drizzle and poor light delayed the start of the post-lunch session by 90 minutes, but the lengthy break did little to change Sri Lanka’s fortunes as Duckett and Pope piled on 95 runs off just 98 balls in an entertaining stand.
Duckett was the more aggressive of the two, regularly unsettling the bowlers with his proactive approach.
Despite some movement for the pacers, Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled with inconsistency, allowing Duckett to play freely.
His signature scoop shot stole the spotlight again, though it also led to his downfall—his second dismissal to the stroke in this series.
While Duckett missed out on a deserved century, his attacking play gave England the upper hand in challenging conditions.
Pope, meanwhile, found his rhythm on his home ground, The Oval, where he has historically excelled.
He batted fluently, gradually expanding his shot range as the innings progressed.
At the other end, Joe Root, the leading run-scorer of the series, looked unusually uncomfortable at the crease.
His scratchy innings came to an end just before Tea, as he was dismissed by a short ball from Lahiru Kumara—a relief for Sri Lanka, considering Root’s dominance in the series.
With England poised for a strong total, Sri Lanka will need to regroup quickly in the final session to regain control.
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