Ollie Pope Cements Position to England's No 3 Role with Bold 90 Against Lions

It is tough to determine how relevant of the English team's practice game will end up being meaningful when their Ashes series contest begins not far at the Perth venue on the coming Friday – a short span in space or time but light years away in import and mood – but if it accomplished nothing more than enhancing Pope's confidence, that by itself has rendered the endeavor beneficial.

The English side's number three batsman – that much is undoubtedly totally clear – followed his initial innings century by scoring a further 90 in the second, and the truly remarkable was not merely the number of runs but the way in which they were made. Periodically the 27-year-old looked commanding, striking a twelve fours and a pair of sixes, hitting the ball beautifully but with devilish purpose.

This was merely a friendly against a Lions side that employed fully 11 pitchers during a match played in before a handful of spectators in a local ground, but it was still extremely impressive. For the record, the England team, chasing of 202 once the Lions closed their second innings on 251 for six, won by five wickets in hand after Smith raced the team past the finish line with a series of fours and sixes.

Zak Crawley and Duckett, the remaining significant first-innings achievers, both failed in the follow-up, while Joe Root made additional points – 31 on this occasion – but was far from more assured, prior to being confused and accordingly dismissed by Will Jacks. Harry Brook suffered an similar fate shortly after.

Shoaib Bashir – who concluded the fixture having bowled 12 bowling spells for both teams – will have faced a portion of the strokes he bowled to pretty aggressive. His initial six deliveries against the Lions went for 56, with McKinney tucking in to pitching that if not completely poor was definitely not overly intimidating.

At the end the sixth over of those overs, the English side's three other bowlers had allowed roughly the equivalent number of runs – 57 – from 15, though Bashir became a somewhat less giving in time, giving up 27 from his remaining six. He secured a single wicket, making a sharp, low-down grab, diving to his right, to conclude Bethell's innings for 70, from 80 deliveries.

Bethell, compensating for achieving only three in the opening knock, was one of three fifty-scorers in the Lions' top order. McKinney's performances from opening batsman were more reliable than those of their No 3: he notched 66 in their first batting effort and went two better in their follow-up, facing 61 deliveries for his 50 runs, with five and two six-hit shots, the pair off Bashir's's bowling. Bethell reached 68 then a mishit to Stokes at cover position, who held a stooping grab at shin level.

Jordan Cox showed like reliability, and backed up his initial innings' 53 with another 57, at just over a run a ball. He produced several exceptionally beautiful shots on the way, featuring a drive down the ground and a hook from back-to-back Brydon Carse deliveries to reach his fifty.

Following his absence from the opening day of this match with a stomach upset and made only the least significant of efforts to the follow-up, Carse delivered brilliantly when eventually afforded the shot, with McKinney and Jordan Cox included in his three scalps.

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