Stand-in skipper Ollie Pope struck a fighting unbeaten century while opener Ben Duckett slammed a half-century to help England reach 221/3 as rain and bad light played spoilsport on the first day of the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval here on Friday. 

Pope was batting on 103 while Duckett hammered a 79-ball 86 as England recovered from an early blow to reach a good position when play was finally stopped by bad light with only half of the day`s quota of overs being bowled.