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Ollie Pope overcame a run of poor performances since being named as England’s stand-in captain with an unbeaten 84 on the first afternoon of the final Test against Sri Lanka.
Back on his home ground of the Kia Oval – where he has scored 11 of his 20 first-class centuries and averages over 80 for Surrey – he carried the hosts to a solid 194 for three at tea.
Pope scored just 30 runs in his first four innings of the series, prompting awkward questions about his ability to shoulder the weight of leadership, but he provided a fitting response.
After being sent out under gloomy skies and with the floodlights in full swing from the start, he had the courage to give free rein to his more aggressive instincts and cashed in for nine fours and two sixes.
Pope’s Surrey team-mate Dan Lawrence also needed a score to settle down after a difficult spell as the team’s makeshift fly-half but he failed when a mishit shot sent him on his way for just five.
It was a stroke of luck for a Sri Lanka team whose attack lacked coherence, bite and direction and Ben Duckett put England back in control with an impulsive 86 either side of a long delay caused by bad light and drizzle.
His lack of patience cost him a century, caught attempting a third premeditated ramp in quick succession, but Pope will be desperate to convert.
Sri Lanka looked to have perfect bowling conditions under thick grey clouds but it took a mistake from Lawrence to get their only breakthrough of a curtailed morning session. Lawrence got into position to drive Lahiru Kumara down the leg side but changed his mind at the last minute and only managed to curl an ugly top edge to gully.
The Surrey batter threw his head back in dismay long before the ball landed in the hands of Pathum Nissanka, aware that the opportunity he had waited for more than two years could slip away from him.
Lawrence took 11 balls to score and his lack of fluency was highlighted by Duckett’s 51, who was not out after just 48 deliveries. Duckett was particularly dismissive of Milan Rathnayake, hitting him repeatedly over the arc between mid-on and extra cover as a burst of three overs cost him 25 runs.
Pope put Sri Lanka on notice early on, dropping back to bowl Kumara for six over deep square moments before the drinks break. A large crowd were left frustrated to see the players leave the field at 76 for one, with conservatism over poor light once again causing discontent.
When play resumed late at 3.10pm, England tried to make up for lost time with a frenetic attack. Duckett took two steps outside off stump to collect Kumara, missing the first attempt for four runs and hitting the second attempt for six runs.
When Sri Lanka ran out of time, he deflected an uppercut over the deep third boundary but the risks grew. He paid the price with a hundred to take, once again going for the scoop and this time lobbing Rathnayake straight to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal. The bowler, chastened by a difficult day, could barely muster a celebration.
Duckett’s departure did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm, Pope edged the next ball for six and Joe Root got going with a rising shot that interested leg-gully.
Sri Lanka drove Pope past fifty with a poor pitch deep and the runs continued to flow as he directed Angelo Mathews straight into the gap between slip and gully.
Root surprisingly ran out of pace after his two centuries at Lord’s last week and departed for 13, sweeping Kumara straight towards the boundary fielder.
