Ollie Pope Reinforces Position to England's Number Three Slot with Bold 90 Versus Lions

It is tough to know how significant of the English team's preparatory match will be remotely meaningful when their Ashes contest kicks off not far at Perth Stadium on the coming Friday – a short span in space or time but worlds away in import and environment – but if it achieved nothing more than boosting Ollie Pope's assurance, that on its own has rendered the endeavor valuable.

The English side's number three batsman – that much is surely completely clear – followed his first-innings ton by notching another 90 in the second, and the most remarkable was not so much the quantity of scored runs but the way in which they were made. Periodically the 27-year-old seemed dominant, striking a twelve boundaries and a couple of sixes, timing the ball sweetly but with devilish purpose.

It was merely a practice match versus a Lions side that used exactly 11 bowlers across a match staged in front of a handful of spectators in a public park, but it was nevertheless hugely impressive. Officially, England, set a target of 202 following the Lions declared their second innings on 251 for six, won by five wickets once Jamie Smith sped the team past the finish line with a stream of boundaries.

Crawley and Duckett, the other two significant first-innings successes, both were dismissed in the second innings, while Joe Root scored additional points – 31 on this time – but was not significantly more convincing, prior to being bemused and duly bowled by Will Jacks. Harry Brook met an similar outcome soon afterwards.

Bashir – who ended the match having delivered 12 overs for both teams – will have found a portion of the hitting he confronted quite aggressive. His initial six overs against the Lions conceded 56, with McKinney tucking in to bowling that if not entirely loose was certainly far from dangerous.

After the sixth of those overs, England's three other bowlers had given away nearly exactly the identical amount of runs – 57 – from 15, though Bashir became a little less giving in time, conceding 27 from his remaining six. He took one wicket, taking a smart, diving catch, diving to his right, to end Jacob Bethell's innings for 70, off 80 deliveries.

Jacob Bethell, making up for scoring merely three runs in the first innings, was one of three half-centurions in the Lions' top four. McKinney's performances from opening batsman were steadier than those of their number three: he notched 66 in their first innings and went two better in their second, using 61 deliveries to reach his half-century, with five and two six-hit shots, both against Bashir's's pitching. Jacob Bethell made 68 prior to a mis-hit to Ben Stokes at cover, who made a bending catch at ankle height.

Jordan Cox displayed like reliability, and built on his first-innings 53 with another 57, at just over a run a ball. There were several exceptionally handsome strokes on the way, featuring a straight hit and a hook from consecutive Carse deliveries to attain his half century.

After missing the first day of this game with a illness and contributed just the most minor of efforts to the second day, Carse delivered brilliantly when eventually given the opportunity, with Ben McKinney and Cox part of his three dismissals.

This report will update