Ollie Pope has virtually guaranteed his position as England's number three batsman after delivering another commanding performance in the final Ashes warm-up match against the Lions at Lilac Hill.
Dominant Batting Display
The 27-year-old followed his first-innings century with a powerful 90 runs in the second innings, demonstrating exactly why selectors see him as the solution to England's problematic number three slot. What stood out wasn't just the quantity of runs but the authoritative manner in which they were scored.
Pope appeared completely in control throughout his innings, striking twelve boundaries and two sixes while showing perfect timing and aggressive intent. His performance came despite the relatively low-pressure environment of a friendly match played before sparse crowds in a public park setting.
Team Victory Amid Mixed Performances
England secured a five-wicket victory after being set a target of 202 runs, with Jamie Smith providing the finishing touches through a flurry of boundaries. However, not all of England's batsmen found their rhythm during the match.
Both Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who had impressed in the first innings, failed to make significant contributions in the second. Joe Root added 31 more runs to his tally but failed to fully convince before being clean bowled by Will Jacks, with Harry Brook suffering the same fate shortly afterwards.
Bowling Challenges and Lions Resistance
The Lions team, who utilised eleven different bowlers throughout the match, declared their second innings on 251 for six, setting up what could have been a challenging run chase. Their batting lineup showed considerable resilience with three players reaching half-centuries.
Ben McKinney proved particularly consistent, scoring 66 in the first innings and improving to 68 in the second, while Jacob Bethell smashed 70 runs from just 80 deliveries. Jordan Cox also impressed with scores of 53 and 57 across the two innings, displaying some exceptionally elegant stroke play along the way.
England's bowling had mixed fortunes, with Shoaib Bashir initially struggling as his first six overs conceded 56 runs before he eventually found better rhythm. Brydon Carse, who missed the first day due to illness, returned to claim three important wickets including both McKinney and Cox.
With the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium just days away, this final warm-up has provided valuable insights into England's likely lineup and form heading into the crucial series against Australia.
