England continued their dominance on the second day of the test match against Sri Lanka at the Oval. Ollie Pope scored a breezy century, becoming the first player in history to score his first seven centuries against different opposition. Ben Duckett also impressed with a defiant innings of 86. Sri Lanka struggled to make an impact, with England reaching 283-4 at the start of the day.
Despite Sri Lanka’s desperate efforts to claw back into the game, England’s batsmen, especially Pope, continued to dominate. Pope was eventually dismissed for 144 after a review overturned an LBW decision. Harry Brook also contributed with 19 runs before being caught at extra cover by Kamindu Mendis.
The Sri Lankan bowlers, particularly Rathnayake and Kumara, kept the pressure on England’s batsmen, with Pope and Brook surviving a few close calls. England’s run-rate of 5.02 per over was among the highest by a team put into bat. The weather was better on the second day, providing more comfortable conditions for batting.
The match saw some excellent performances, with Pope’s century and Duckett’s aggressive innings standing out. However, Sri Lanka’s bowlers showed resilience and discipline, making it challenging for England’s batsmen to score freely. As England looked to build a substantial lead, Sri Lanka’s hopes of making a comeback rested on their bowlers to pick up quick wickets.
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