Champion County match: Ollie Pope makes 251 for Surrey

Last updated on .From the section Cricketcomments45

Dubai dust storm
Day three was played in a sandstorm in Dubai
MCC Champion County match, ICC Global Cricket Academy, Dubai (day three)
MCC 265 & 221-1: Sibley 102*, Rhodes 88
Surrey 520: Pope 251, Smith 127; Parry 3-54
MCC trail by 34 runs
Scorecard
Play resumes at 06:00 GMT on Wednesday - listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sport website and app

England batsman Ollie Pope started the 2019 campaign with a career-best 251 before Surrey's bowlers struggled in their Champion County match with MCC.

The 21-year-old, who won two Test caps last summer, added 68 to his overnight 183 to help Surrey reach 520 all out.

Teenage debutant Jamie Smith was removed early on for 127 by MCC captain Stuart Broad (2-83) in Dubai, ending a fifth-wicket stand of 266 with Pope.

Dom Sibley's unbeaten 102 then took MCC to 221-1 at stumps, a deficit of 34.

Warwickshire openers Will Rhodes and Sibley put on 190 for the first wicket in MCC's second innings before Rhodes was bowled by Scott Borthwick for 88 late on.

Earlier Pope, who did not play on England's winter tours of Sri Lanka and West Indies, gave a reminder of his talent as he brought up a maiden double-century.

In the midst of a sandstorm, Pope went on the charge after passing 200 and went to 250 by launching Dom Bess for back-to-back maximums.

He was eventually dismissed in the next over when he skied Rhodes to Sibley at mid-off, having hit 23 fours and six sixes in a sublime 297-ball innings.

However, MCC's resilience with the bat second time around means the game is now likely to finish in a draw.

Following the conclusion of the match on Wednesday, Surrey host Durham University on Thursday, 4 April, and then start the defence of their County Championship title against Essex at The Oval a week later.

Analysis

Mark Church, Surrey commentator for BBC Radio London in Dubai

Such is the impact that Ollie Pope has made that you tend to forget that this is only the start of his second first-class season.

He looked every inch the England batsman, in that he constructed his 251 against a very good MCC attack including Stuart Broad.

Every time he walks to the middle he looks assured and this innings was full of positive footwork and strokeplay.

Every test that has been put in front of him so far he has passed and it is only a matter of time before he is pulling on an England shirt again.

He has also proved here in Dubai that he can bat in all conditions including sand, as most of his double hundred was made in the middle of a sandstorm.

Comments

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45 comments

  • Comment posted by Pedee, at 14:52 26 Mar 2019

    13. Dowlass. Because it's March?

  • Comment posted by spiros115, at 13:32 26 Mar 2019

    Pope looks an absolute class act, he will get another go for England, hopefully sooner rather than later and I'm sure he'll succeed.

  • Comment posted by Wooster, at 15:25 26 Mar 2019

    Nothing in this pitch for the bowlers. Dubai a batting paradise and always has been. All the UAE pitches are. That being said, a 250 on any pitch is a great innings. Well done Ollie Pope.

    Surrey have a real wealth of talent at their disposal. That Smith lad looks good too. A 100 on debut is no mean feat against that MCC line-up.

  • Comment posted by Red267, at 14:03 26 Mar 2019

    Take a leaf out of Southgate’s book, if they are good enough they are old enough!

    I say get him in for Ireland and hopefully he will flourish during the Ashes!

  • Comment posted by Neilinabbey, at 16:38 26 Mar 2019

    @23JT

    "Why the hate?! Broad is an 80mph trundle nowadays!"
    ___

    13 people (at time of writing) downvoting your comment isn't "hate". Hate is wanting you dead, or wishing harm comes to you. Downvoting just means we don't find your comment either accurate or funny.

    The sooner people learn the difference between hate and disagreement, the better.

  • Comment posted by Gary McH-P, at 13:52 26 Mar 2019

    Hopefully Pope can build on this and put pressure on the England top order. That won't be that hard if he keeps scoring at that rate!

  • Comment posted by Neilinabbey, at 17:23 26 Mar 2019

    @27 JT

    Well perhaps if you used one you'd understand the meaning of words and use them properly. Then perhaps you wouldn't get so many downvotes.

    The overuse of the word hate is a serious problem that is being used to hide from criticism and prevent free speech. It also belittles the difficulties of those who suffer genuine hate.

  • Comment posted by Cymraes27, at 13:59 26 Mar 2019

    Get Pope in for the Ireland test and the Ashes!

  • Comment posted by BillM, at 14:46 26 Mar 2019

    While it would be good to get Pope into the England lineup and he is compiling an impressive case, he doesn't need to be setup to fail at number 3 as he was first time round.

    At the moment he needs to be in the middle order (4 to 6) and unless Root moves up to 3 (which he should, of course) or Bairstow/Stokes/Buttler get dropped (unlikely), there just isn't a place available.

  • Comment posted by NeilT, at 14:19 26 Mar 2019

    >> "He has also proved here in Dubai that he can bat in all conditions including sand"

    Forgive me, but how does one innings in a sandstorm in Dubai prove he can bat in any conditions _except_ for in a sandstorm in Dubai?

  • Comment posted by The Laser Show, at 15:07 26 Mar 2019

    13. Dowlass. Because most of the squares in the uk would be unplayable at this time of year. Plus its not the county championship. Its the Champion County match, so its a first class friendly, so it could be played anywhere and still wouldn't have any meaning to the CC.

  • Comment posted by PelhamBarton, at 21:52 26 Mar 2019

    20. fdbjwtnb: As it happens, we have had good weather today at all six grounds where first class cricket was scheduled. However, last year the weather was disastrous at this time of year. Last time the Champion County match was played at Lord's (in 2009) they only played 136 overs across the whole four days. It was decided that this one-off match could not be left to the vagaries of the weather.

  • Comment posted by dave61, at 18:51 26 Mar 2019

    14

    Being March didn't stop Hildreth making 158 not out today in England.

  • Comment posted by oldShuck , at 19:53 26 Mar 2019

    25 Road Runner:

    Off the back of that double century, Sibley wanted guaranteed first eleven top 4 batting spot. Alec Stewart said can't do that - so he left. I'm with Stewart.

  • Comment posted by fdbjwtnb, at 09:18 27 Mar 2019

    Like your test match team but I would pick Foakes,as he's the comfortably the best keeper,and one,of the few in the team who seems to be able to bat regarding the situation of the match.

  • Comment posted by worcesterwolf, at 15:29 26 Mar 2019

    @12
    Agree while Root is captain he will not bat at 3.
    But if Pope keeps scoring like he did last season and has started this season Root should be pushed up.

  • Comment posted by fdbjwtnb, at 21:51 26 Mar 2019

    Dom Sibley is a bear,now and committed to the cause. Surrey got Rikki Clarke in return, who was arguably their best player of the past two year's.

  • Comment posted by Neilinabbey, at 15:25 26 Mar 2019

    @13 dowlass

    This match has been played in the Middle East (and, last year, the Caribbean) for years. It was initially moved to test out day-night matches, which wasn't really feasible in England in March/April.

  • Comment posted by PelhamBarton, at 13:21 27 Mar 2019

    42. fdbjwtnb: You left out "after 19 overs of play". That does not in any way change the overall truth that you are more likely to get a decent game in Dubai than in England at this time of year.

  • Comment posted by fdbjwtnb, at 12:03 27 Mar 2019

    Last day of county championship curtain raiser called of due to rain.

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