Ollie Pope Reinforces Status to England Cricket's No 3 Spot with Bold 90 Versus Lions

It is tough to know how significant of England's preparatory game will prove meaningful when their Ashes series battle begins not far at the Perth venue on Friday – no distance in geography or duration but light years away in importance and environment – but if it accomplished solely enhancing Pope's self-belief, that on its own has made the effort beneficial.

England's No 3 – that point is certainly absolutely established – followed his initial innings hundred by notching another 90 in the second, and what was notable was not so much the quantity of runs but the manner in which they were accumulated. At times the 27-year-old seemed dominant, striking a dozen fours and a two of sixes, connecting with the ball perfectly but with fierce purpose.

This was just a friendly versus a England Lions side that used a total of 11 bowlers during a game staged in before a small group of spectators in a public park, but it was nonetheless very praiseworthy. For the record, the England team, set a target of 202 once the Lions closed their second innings on 251 for six, triumphed by five wickets in hand when Smith raced the team over the winning target with a series of fours and sixes.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, the two other significant first-innings performers, both failed in the follow-up, while Joe Root made further points – 31 on this instance – but was not significantly more assured, then being confused and duly bowled by Will Jacks. Brook suffered an similar end shortly after.

Bashir – who ended the game having delivered 12 bowling spells for either team – will have found part of the batting he faced pretty challenging. His initial six deliveries against the Lions conceded 56, with Ben McKinney tucking in to deliveries that if not exactly loose was certainly not overly intimidating.

At the end the sixth spell of that period, England's three other pitchers had conceded roughly the equivalent total of points – 57 – from 15, though the bowler became a slightly less generous as time passed, conceding 27 from his last six. He secured a single wicket, holding a smart, diving catch, falling to his right side, to conclude Bethell's knock for 70, facing 80 balls.

Jacob Bethell, making up for scoring just three runs in the first innings, was among three half-centurions in the Lions team's top four. Ben McKinney's returns from opening batsman were steadier than those of their No 3: he notched 66 in their first innings and improved by two in their second innings, taking 61 balls to reach his 50 runs, with five fours and two six-hit shots, both against Bashir's deliveries. Jacob Bethell got to 68 then a mis-hit to Ben Stokes at cover position, who held a bending grab at shin level.

Jordan Cox exhibited similar steadiness, and backed up his initial innings' 53 with a further 57, at slightly more than a run a ball. He played several remarkably elegant hits on the way, including a drive down the ground and a pull from successive Carse balls to reach his fifty.

After missing the first day of this game with a stomach upset and provided only the least significant of efforts to the follow-up, Brydon Carse pitched superbly when finally afforded the chance, with McKinney and Jordan Cox part of his three wickets.

This report could change