England and Sri Lanka encountered an overcast morning at The Oval. After winning the toss, Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva opted to bowl first.
The pace duo of Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando made a strong start. England’s openers, Ben Duckett and Dan Lawrence, contributed 45 runs before Lahiru Kumara dismissed Lawrence in the 10th over.
Duckett reached a brisk half-century, but play was interrupted by bad light and drizzle, with England at 76/1 after 15 overs at lunch. Following a lengthy break, as Ollie Pope and Duckett resumed their innings, the England captain suffered a significant injury.
On the first ball of the 21st over, Lahiru Kumara bowled from around the wicket, delivering a length ball aimed at the off stump. The ball took an extra bounce, and Pope attempted to defend it. However, the extra bounce struck Pope’s elbow, causing the ball to briefly lodge against his pad.
— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078) September 6, 2024
Pope immediately realized he was bleeding from the impact, with blood visible on his right elbow. The game was briefly paused for medical attention, but despite the pain, Pope continued to play, drawing sympathy from Twitter users for his plight.
