Pope's Century Anchors England's Strong Reply After Bumrah's Lone Stand Rocks Top Order

🏏 Pope's Century Anchors England's Strong Reply After Bumrah's Lone Stand Rocks Top Order

Published: June 22, 2025 | Category: Cricket | Reading Time: 5 min

In a day marked by sharp swings in momentum, Ollie Pope's masterful century rescued England from early turbulence and guided them to a commanding position in the second Test against India at Lord’s. After a fiery opening burst by Jasprit Bumrah, which left England reeling, Pope’s composure and strokeplay turned the tide, laying the foundation for what could be a series-defining innings.

⚡ Bumrah Strikes Early

The morning session belonged entirely to India. After putting up a modest total of 305, the visitors came out with aggressive intent. Jasprit Bumrah, leading from the front, unleashed a spell of precision and pace that rattled England’s top order. His first breakthrough came in the third over, removing Zak Crawley with a sharp in-swinger that beat the inside edge and crashed into the stumps.

Moments later, Ben Duckett was trapped lbw by a trademark Bumrah nip-backer that left England at 21 for 2. The collapse continued when Joe Root, looking to stabilize the innings, nicked a beauty to the slips, giving Bumrah his third scalp of the morning. England were wobbling at 41 for 3, and India’s bowlers looked poised to dominate.

🧠 Pope Shows Grit Under Pressure

Enter Ollie Pope — England’s dependable No. 4 — who walked in with the team under pressure but unflustered. He began cautiously, leaving balls outside off and working singles into gaps, but quickly shifted gears once he settled in. What set this innings apart was Pope's ability to absorb pressure and then counterattack with precision.

Partnering with Jonny Bairstow, Pope steered England through the tough post-lunch phase. The duo added 96 runs for the fourth wicket, blunting the Indian pacers and forcing skipper Rohit Sharma to introduce spin earlier than planned. Bairstow’s quickfire 44, although not monumental, helped shift momentum and allowed Pope to anchor the innings.

By tea, Pope had reached a well-paced half-century, peppered with confident drives, flicks off the pads, and the occasional sweep against spin.

💯 Century of Character

In the final session, Pope shifted into another gear. His footwork against Ravindra Jadeja was exemplary, often dancing down the pitch to nullify the spin. He brought up his century off 172 balls, punching Siraj through extra cover — a shot that exemplified his control throughout the innings.

His celebration was muted but meaningful, raising his bat to a Lord’s crowd that had been silenced earlier in the day. As the sun dipped behind the stands, Pope continued accumulating runs while rotating the strike with the lower middle order. His stand with Chris Woakes, worth 58 runs, further extended England’s reach.

📊 Stumps Summary

At stumps, England were 289 for 6, just 16 runs behind India’s total. Pope remained unbeaten on 127, with Woakes contributing a solid 32 not out. Jasprit Bumrah finished with figures of 4 for 61, the lone standout in a bowling lineup that began to tire as the day wore on.

India will rue missed chances — a dropped catch in the slips and a missed run-out — both of which allowed Pope to settle early. While the match remains delicately poised, the momentum now clearly favors the hosts.

🧠 Tactical Takeaways

• India’s bowling was top-heavy. Without support from the second pacer or meaningful impact from spin, Bumrah’s efforts lacked backing.
• England’s middle order showed remarkable resilience — something they’ve lacked in recent overseas series.
• The pitch is showing signs of uneven bounce. Expect the spinners to play a bigger role on Day 4 and Day 5.

🔜 What to Expect on Day 4

With Pope still at the crease and a shallow tail to follow, England will aim to build a significant lead. India, meanwhile, must strike early and then bat with clarity if they want to regain control.

The next session could determine the match’s outcome. A lead of even 50+ runs on this surface might prove decisive, especially with variable bounce beginning to emerge.