Ollie Pope stars, Joe Root fails in Ashes warm-up as fan takes spectacular crowd catch
Ollie Pope finished with a century and Joe Root walked off for 1 in a mixed day for England's batters during the warm-up match against the Lions.
On day two at Lilac Hill, Perth, England started the day with the bat after its opponents had been bowled out for 375.
It looked like it'd be a runfest early for the openers as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett raced to half centuries.
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Duckett was first to go for 92 at 1-182. The left hander's innings included a six to deep square, which was spectacularly taken in the crowd. The fan did his best specky, taking the catch with two hands over his head with the front knee raised.
Joe Root walks off; a fan takes a crowd catch from Ben Duckett's six. Getty/Nine
Crawley was gone two runs later for 82.
Duckett's dismissal sparked a collapse for England with Joe Root (1) and Harry Brook (2) departing. Brook's departure was particularly disappointing, having charged down the wicket and missing a loose drive. His wicket meant England went from 0-182 to 4-198.
Pope then consolidated the innings and pushed towards a ton, combining with Ben Stokes for a 137-run partnership.
The centurion was then bowled for 100 before Stokes was gone after making 77.
Only Jofra Archer could make inroads with the bat from there, finishing 27 not out with England all out for 426.
Post-match, Crawley was complimentary of Pope's performance.
"He played brilliantly today, and looks in great touch as he has done all week to be honest," he told reporters.
"He looks very focused and in a really good place with his game."
Zak Crawley. Getty
As for Root, the opener doesn't believe he'd be too concerned.
"He's spent a lot of time over the middle the last few years, I think he'll be fine," he said.
