ENG 498/3 (88.0 ov, Ollie Pope 169, Harry Brook 9, Tanaka Chivanga 0/83) – Stumps – England vs Zimbabwe Only Test Match Live Score Summary

Cliff Notes – ENG 498/3 (88.0 ov, Ollie Pope 169, Harry Brook 9, Tanaka Chivanga 0/83) – Stumps – England vs Zimbabwe Only Test Match Live Score Summary

• England finished day one with a commanding score of 498 for 3, highlighted by significant contributions from Duckett, Crawley, and Pope, who all excelled despite recent struggles.
• Zak Crawley expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting the importance of rhythm and capitalising on loose deliveries, while acknowledging the pressure of previous form.
• Zimbabwe’s bowling faced challenges, with only a few moments of success, and they will need to improve significantly on day two to avoid a heavy defeat.

ENG 498/3 (88.0 ov, Ollie Pope 169, Harry Brook 9, Tanaka Chivanga 0/83) – Stumps – England vs Zimbabwe Only Test Match Live Score Summary

6.45pm So, that’s your lot for tonight. Hang about for Firdose’s report and Vish’s write-up of a very Bazbally day. From Miller, Alan and Ranjith, good night!

6.41pm Here’s Zak Crawley: “Pretty nice, fantastic score, great day, very pleased. WIth Ben playing as well as he did, and Popey doing the same, I was comfortable getting down the other end. Always want a big score, disappointed when I got out, felt in good touch, found a bit of rhythm. You obviously know you’re under pressure, but the most annoying thing is not playing well. That’s what’s most frustrating. The wickets haven’t been easy for Kent but nice to get some runs today. I wasn’t trying to overhit the ball, but pounced on the bad balls. Set-up is huge for me, trying to stand a little taller, head coming forward, hands high. I try to overhit it sometimes.”

6.34pm Well, that was one-way traffic, predictably so maybe, but there’s no detracting from the efforts of Duckett, Crawley and Pope in particular. The first set the tone with a run-a-ball hundred, and the latter two shut out the noise surrounding their poor form, and put in the displays that they needed, both personally and for the team. Pope has the chance to push on on day two, with all the signs suggesting that England aren’t quite done with the bat yet. As for the Zimbabweans, not a lot of joy. Three moments to savour, but their best efforts came late in the day with the second new ball. They’ll need to make it talk tomorrow to prevent this being an absolute monster by mid-morning.

Chivanga to Brook, FOUR, on the hips, tickled through fine leg for one final boundary, and it’s a whopping 498 for 3 on day one of the English summer!