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The English batter Ollie Pope left everyone awestruck with his insane reverse scoop over the wicket-keeper’s head on Day 2 of the third Test match against India in Rajkot. The 26-year-old, who has already hit a match-winning hundred in the Hyderabad Test with his unorthodox strokeplay, nailed the reverse scoop against Ravindra Jadeja, one of the toughest spinners to hit.
The reverse scoop shot from the right-handed Ollie Pope was down to his indomitable courage and great fitness, stretching down to put his head in the line of fire, to get underneath the ball with the left-handed batter’s grip before sending it over the wicket-keeper’s head. Dhruv Jurel, who was keeping behind the stumps on debut, saw the ball fly over his right shoulder before it got to the rope for four runs.
It led to the former England cricketer Graeme Swann on the live broadcast comparing Ollie Pope’s stroke with the Sri Lankan legend Tillakaratne Dilshan, the pioneer of the “Dilscoop,” which is quite similar to the English batter’s reverse scoop shot. The former domestic cricketer in England, Simon Hughes, shared the clip of the exploits of Ollie Pope, captioning it, “Not the Dilscoop, the Duckscoop #INDvENGTest.”
Shortly after executing the reverse scoop, Ollie Pope was dismissed by Mohammed Siraj on review, trapping him LBW for 39 off 55 with five fours and one six. He shared a 93-run stand with the unbeaten centurion from Day 2, Ben Duckett, to help put England in a good position at 207/2 in just 35 overs at the close of play, in pursuit of a 445-run first-innings score from India.
The play on Day 3 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium could prove to be very crucial for England to keep up the pace with India, who are still ahead by 238 runs in the first innings.
Watch Ollie Pope's insane reverse scoop shot here:
