ENG vs IRE 1st Test, Day 2: Ollie Pope’s brilliant double century and Josh Tongue’s remarkable three-wicket haul on Day 2 of the one-off Test match against England and Ireland at Lord’s ensured England retained their dominance.
Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope maintained their outstanding effort from starting the day at 152 for 1. The pair continued to score rapidly exceeding Ireland’s first-inning total. As their partnership developed, both batsmen scored hundreds, bringing up a stunning 252-run partnership for the second wicket.
Before being dismissed by Graham Hume in the 60th over, Duckett showed a reckless batting style by slamming 182 runs from just 178 balls, including 24 boundaries and a six. Before he left, his firing innings had raised England’s score to 361 runs.
After Duckett was dismissed, Pope joined former captain Joe Root in the center. Together, Root and Pope scored 148 runs for the third wicket, and Root also reached his fifty-run mark. In just 207 deliveries, Pope, exhibiting extraordinary batting prowess, scored his double century, breaking the previous record for the quickest double century on English ground.
Pope scored 205 runs off 208 balls, 22 boundaries, and three sixes. Pope’s wicket enabled England to declare their innings finished at 524 for 4, at that point they immediately sent Ireland to bat.
ENG vs IRE 1st Test, Day 2: Josh Tongue’s three fer rattled Irleand’s batting Order
Josh Tongue, making his debut, had an important impact right away in the third inning, giving England a perfect start. Ireland’s Peter Moor was caught LBW by Tongue in the sixth over. The visitors were suffering at 18 for 2 after Tongue’s extraordinary session when he sent Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie back to the dugout in a single over, caught by wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.
Unfortunately, after hitting 12 runs off 26 balls, Ireland’s second batter James McCullum had to leave the pitch injured, sending Paul Sterling to the crease. Sterling, however, failed to deal with Tongue’s bowling skills and ended up being his third target in the 17th over. Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker sustained Ireland’s innings after losing early wickets, building a crucial 34-run partnership that lasted until the end of Day 2. Ireland concluded the day with 97 for 3, 255 runs behind England.
In the one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s, England found itself in an advantageous position due to Ollie Pope’s outstanding double century and Josh Tongue’s spectacular debut effort.
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