Summary

  1. Pope's century puts England on top against Sri Lankapublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 6 September

    It has been a frustrating, interrupted day but England end it well on top, in part because of Ollie Pope's century.

    If you want to read more then head over to Stephan Shemilt's match report from The Oval.

    You can scroll down and read all of the reaction, with the best clips and match action while the highlights are on BBC Two and iPlayer here from 19:00 BST.

    We'll be back from 10:30 on Saturday.

  2. 'We all knew Pope's ability and skill'published at 18:52 British Summer Time 6 September

    England Opening batter Ben Duckett speaking to Test Match Special: "I had a feeling today, I always rock up and expect to bat because if you end up out there, if you're ready, you can get off to a flyer. That wasn't the case today. I always want to score a hundred but I wasn't playing for a hundred today."

    On playing a reverse sweep: "I've thought about that shot for a while, it felt like I could do it every ball, it was so wide. Its an era where the reverse sweep is the go-to against spin."

    On Ollie Pope: "If a 3 doesn't score runs in two games, there shouldn't be criticism. We all knew his ability and skill, he just proved that today."

    On the weather: "It's frustrating. "e probably got more cricket than we should've. It was really dark, unfortunately there's not much we can do."

  3. Postpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time 6 September

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    You'd want to sit next to Ben Duckett, he's always so positive. Anything's possible, it's a great mentality to have. What I'd say to him is, put some money in the bank. These aren't great attacks, get a big score, because when Cummins, Bumrah, Siraj come at you...

  4. 'As poor a bowling day as I have seen in a long, long time'published at 18:45 British Summer Time 6 September

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    There was no intensity in the field from Sri Lanka, it was all a bit lethargic. You've got a team who probably think they want to be on the plane home. But there's so much more to play for when you're facing England in these conditions. That's as poor as a day of bowling as I've seen in a long, long time.

  5. Postpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 6 September

    Ollie PopeImage source, Getty Images

    A happy man.

  6. Postpublished at 18:42 British Summer Time 6 September

    Russel Arnold
    Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

    Sri Lanka are good for 10 overs, not for 100. They need to be able to keep going for longer periods.

    They also need to be able to see how the game ebbs and flows and adapt to it.

    All you needed to be do was patient and bowl decent lines and lengths. I thought after putting England in, the Sri Lanka bowlers thought it was just going to be that kind of day but it doesn't just happen.

  7. Postpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 6 September

    After a quick start, Ben Duckett continued to power on. He ramped and scooped his way to 86 from 79 balls before playing that ramp shot once too often.

  8. 'Don't rule Lawrence out'published at 18:39 British Summer Time 6 September

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I feel for Dan Lawrence. He's been given this opportunity but he's not an opener. Opening the batting is a specialist skill, the ones that have survived for longest have done it since they were so high.

    He hasn't played great, but don't rule him out being a spare batsman. England are quite loyal to people. He'll hope to have a second innings, then hang by the phone waiting for a call about a winter tour.

  9. 'Lawrence was too desperate'published at 18:37 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Dan Lawrence took a shot of a man that was too desperate. You've got Duckett whacking it at the other end playing exactly how he wanted to play but he knows that England could only bat once this game.

    He was trying to be the traditional opener. He needs to be careful that he doesn't get distracted but he didn't play an attacking or defensive shot, just hit it with no thought.

  10. Postpublished at 18:34 British Summer Time 6 September

    Ben Duckett had England on the front foot from the very start, capitalising on some wayward bowling in bowler-friendly conditions. The gloom has been around all day.

    Dan Lawrence, however, was not able to make the most of the loose bowling. He made two thirties in the first Test but since has made three single-figure scores.

    The experiment of Lawrence opening the batting has not worked so far.

  11. 'Pope pressure all goes away'published at 18:33 British Summer Time 6 September

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Pope arrived at a venue that he adores. So straight away he'd feel more comfortable. He's got a tremendous cut shot and they fed it all day, got him right back into form. But bar a poor bowling performance, you've got to get the job done.

    I was worried about him, because you've got players to come back, but scoring runs today and that all goes away. He won't be captain and he can go back into the ranks.

  12. Postpublished at 18:30 British Summer Time 6 September

    Ollie Pope, England's stand-in captain, came into this match with people talking about his place in the team. He scored a century against West Indies earlier in the summer but scored 6, 6, 1 and 17 in his four innings in this series.

    He was in early but, up against some very ordinary bowling, scored a hundred to quieten the noise and ensure his side have had a very good day all things being told.

  13. 'Pope looked stronger at the start'published at 18:29 British Summer Time 6 September

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    If Pope had played like that in the first two games, there would never have been a talk about him as a player.

    As England captain everything that you do is heightened, the narrative was how can the captain bat. Sometimes it actually brings focus for him. Today, it didn't matter how they scored runs, it was about getting them.

    To be fair to him, he did seem stronger at the crease on the first 20 balls, his head looked higher up and straighter, he had much more control.

    He punished a lot of poor bowling today. He managed better today than the past two games, he didn't have to play the big shots and he's guilty of doing that in the past two games.

  14. Close of play - Eng 221-3published at 18:28 British Summer Time 6 September

    And that is stumps.

    Bad light has brought an early end to the day.

  15. Postpublished at 18:25 British Summer Time 6 September

    Most of the crowd has disappeared but still we wait for any word from the umpires over whether this game has officially been called off.

    At 221-3 from 44.1 overs, England have had a very good day in this conditions. Sri Lanka have been poor.

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:22 British Summer Time 6 September

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    The rules around hours of play and light in Test cricket are ridiculous. They have floodlights, just get on with it. And play 90 overs in the day even if you finish at 7.30 if it's light enough.

    Jim, Bucks

  17. Postpublished at 18:17 British Summer Time 6 September

    Ebony Rainford-Brent
    Former England batter on BBC Sounds

    It feels lighter now than it was when they were sent off, but who knows...

  18. Postpublished at 18:16 British Summer Time 6 September

    Simon Mann
    BBC Test Match Special commentator on BBC Sounds

    I can't see us playing today because the light isn't going to get any better.

  19. Postpublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 6 September

    Want something happier?

    Here's how Ollie Pope got to his seventh Test hundred.

  20. Postpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 6 September

    The crowd continues to boo as the umpires now walk off and head up to the dressing rooms.

    Chris Gaffaney holds his palms out as if to say "what can I do?".