GLIMMER OF POPE

Ollie lights up a grey day with reminder of his class

- GARY FITZGERALD

OLLIE POPE’S prayers for runs were answered a hundred fold 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 demons and silencing those who doubted he could combine captaincy and batting at No.3.

He made a triumphant return to the ground he considers his cricketing cathedral, hitting the right notes with 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 when just 44 overs were bowled.

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.