POPE & GLORY

Stand-in skipper's back in the runs with Oval ton

- GARY FITZGERALD

OLLIE POPE'S prayers for runs were answered as he shone like a beacon in the south London gloom.

The Surrey man was in seventh heaven at The Oval, exorcising his recent batting gremlins to silence those who doubted he could combine the captaincy with batting at No.3.

He made a triumphant return to the ground he considers his cricketing cathedral, hitting an unbeaten 103 to become the first Test batsman to score his first seven hundreds against different opposition.

He and Ben Duckett (86) ensured England amassed 221-3 on a first day disrupted by bad light and rain.

Pope averages over 82 at The Oval and it was the perfect place to repay the faith Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have shown in him.