England's Ollie Pope made headlines with his blistering knock of 150, the fastest at The Oval, before being dismissed for 325 on day two of the third Test against Sri Lanka. Debutant Josh Hull also left his mark by claiming his first Test wicket, while bad light and the contentious issue of players being called off the field due to darkness continued to frustrate both teams. Despite a late comeback by Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis, England still holds a first-innings lead but their lower-order collapse in the final six wickets brought some fight from Sri Lanka's side.
Ollie Pope's Record-Breaking Knock and England's Triumph at The Oval
During the third Test match against Sri Lanka at The Oval, England's Ollie Pope made history with a stunning performance. Here's a comprehensive account of the match and Pope's achievement:
Ollie Pope's Record-Breaking Batting
Pope became the youngest batsman to score the fastest century at The Oval, reaching the milestone in just 88 balls. His blistering knock of 150 propelled England to a commanding first-innings total of 585. Pope's innings was characterized by aggression and powerful strokeplay, particularly through the off-side.
England's First-Innings Dominance
Pope's century was part of a strong batting performance by England. Ben Stokes (160) and Joe Root (115) also contributed significant runs. The English batters took advantage of a docile pitch and Sri Lanka's lack of penetration in their bowling attack.
Sri Lanka's Fightback
Despite England's initial dominance, Sri Lanka fought back admirably in their first innings. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva (102) and Kusal Mendis (84) forged a resilient partnership of 169 runs. Their efforts gave Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope in the match.
Debutant Josh Hull's Impact
18-year-old Josh Hull made a promising debut for England, taking the crucial wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne. Hull's performance showcased his potential and gave England a boost in their bowling department.
Bad Light Controversy
The match was marred by repeated interruptions due to bad light. The umpires had to call the players off the field on several occasions, frustrating both teams. The issue of players being called off the field in fading light remains a contentious topic in cricket.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. What is the significance of Ollie Pope's knock?
2. Who else contributed to England's first-innings total?
3. How did Sri Lanka fight back in the match?
4. What is the bad light controversy?
5. What is the outcome of the match so far?
Former Arsenal and England player Alan Smith has warned Ivan Toney that his England career may be over after the striker's move to the Saudi Pro League for a money-spinning deal worth more than £400,000-a-week. Toney, who had been hoping for a call-up for the national squad, was left out of the team's first games after his move. Smith believes Toney may never add to his six international caps following his move, and while it may be a financially rewarding decision, it may also signal the end of his prime as a player.
Para-athlete Navdeep Singh's silver medal was upgraded to gold after Iran's Beit Sayah Sadegh was disqualified in the men's javelin throw F41 final. India has achieved its best-ever return from the Para Games with Navdeep's gold and Simran Sharma's bronze in the women's 200m T12 race. Shot-putter Hokato Sema also secured a bronze in the men's F57 category final with a career-best throw. Fans celebrated the para-athletes' arrival at the Delhi airport with flower showers.
Nitish Reddy's incredible diving catch dismissed Mayank Agarwal and gave India B the initial breakthrough against India A in the final day of the Duleep Trophy opener. With Yash Dayal and Navdeep Saini picking up wickets in the morning session, India B is looking to secure all six points. However, the four-wicket collapse of India A has put them in danger of suffering a loss. The senior stars are in need of a big partnership to avoid a potential defeat in the final hours of the match.
Meet Shubman Gill, India's cricketing prodigy who has been setting new records and making waves in the sport at just 25 years of age. From his debut in the U-19 World Cup to becoming the captain of India C, Gill has been consistently delivering top performances. And now, with his impressive Test debut at the iconic MCG, he has truly cemented his place as a future cricket legend.
India's Navdeep Singh has won the gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category at the Paris Paralympics after initial winner Sadegh Beit Sayah of Iran was disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag. This marks India's first-ever gold in the category and a personal best for Navdeep, who had previously finished fourth at the Tokyo Games. He beat out China's world record holder with a 47.32m throw to claim the top spot.
Shubman Gill, the young and talented cricketer, turns 25 today and his achievements in the sport are already making waves. From his consistent performances in international cricket to his memorable stints in the IPL, Gill has been showing immense potential as a top-order batsman. As he celebrates his birthday, let's take a look at his top 10 performances that have made him a key player in the Indian team.
The media is buzzing after interim dual-national England football manager Lee Carsley's comments about not singing the national anthem. In a press conference, Sir Keir Starmer was asked about Carsley's stance, causing backlash from the public. Having played for both England and Ireland, the Birmingham-born defensive midfielder's patriotism is being questioned as he prepares for his first match in charge.
In a thrilling college football game, Alabama's comeback in the fourth quarter secured a victory over South Florida after a tough start to the game. Meanwhile, in women's college basketball news, Angel Reese's record-setting rookie season has come to an unexpected end after only two weeks due to injury.
Australia cruised to victory in the third and final T20I against Scotland, completing a series cleansweep with a 70-run win. Travis Head and skipper Mitchell Marsh led the Australian charge, setting a record-breaking powerplay total and smashing 155 runs in just 58 balls. In the second match, Josh Inglis stole the show with a quick-fire century, leaving Scotland reeling. With the third match fast approaching, Scotland will need to find a way to halt Australia's powerful batting lineup if they want to avoid a humiliating series defeat. Fans can catch all the action live on ABP Live.
After initially winning silver, Navdeep Singh was awarded India's first-ever gold medal in the men's javelin F41 category at the Paris Paralympics. This was a result of Iran's Sadegh Beit Sayah being disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag during the competition. Navdeep, who competes in the classification meant for athletes of short stature, produced a personal best effort of 47.32m to claim the top position.