England seamer Josh Tong, making his debut, took his first three Test wickets and an unearned fourth when James McCollum dropped out through injury. This four-day Test is due to end in three days.

Ireland led 97-3, trailing by 255 after England made it 524-4 at a run rate of 6.33, and announced the game after tea.

The bell rang when Ollie Pope struck out 205 points, his first double century. Ben Duckett led the morning session and made 182 balls, and Joe Root added 56.

After England’s top order was smashed on a good pitch for the game, Ireland struggled to get a foothold in the game.

Tong, who had threatened unsuccessfully in the first inning, trapped opener Peter Moore on 11 balls in the new inning. His sixth ball struck out captain Andy Balbirnie with the score at 2. On Tonga McCollum’s second hit, he attempted a spurt, but twisted his right ankle badly and fell down. He withdrew in the 12th minute and was taken to the hospital.

Paul Stirling caught Tonga on the foot in the 15th minute and Ireland led 63-3. Harry Tector, 33 not out, and Lorcan Tucker, 21 not out, scored the last 10 overs.

Their difficulties contrasted sharply with England’s willful and successful grit.

England began the day with a score of 152-1, trailing Ireland by only 20 points.

Duckett, with 60 points, hit his second Test hundred unhindered with 106 balls and scored 101 runs in the morning session. In the process, he overtook Don Bradman in reaching 150 points in tests at Lord’s. Duckett did so with a one-ball run. He left for lunch with a score of 161.

Pope went from 29 points overnight to 97 by lunch.

It didn’t take long for Pope to record his fourth Test century of 126 balls, but then Duckett struck out for 182 the same moment Ireland got the spare. Duckett fouled Graeme Hume and dragged the ball on.

Duckett’s 182nd shot came off 178 balls, shortly after he struck out the first six in the match. He also made 24 boundaries and left to much applause.

Duckett and Pope combined for 252 points in 43.2 ounces.

Pope was joined by Ruth, and they quickly gained momentum.

After Curtis Camper hit, Pope broke the 150-ball mark in 166 balls, repeating Bradman’s record set during PepelnThe 1930 tournament, the fastest set of 150 balls in the Lord’s Test.

Pope also repeated Duckett’s feat, scoring 100 runs in the session and having 197 for tea.

England scored 178 runs between the lunches and Tea averaged 6.85.

Root made 52 knock outs and reached the 11,000-run test mark, ranking 11th on the all-time list.

He was struck out for 56 of 59 with three balls in the last session after stepping on off-spinner Andy McBreen.

Two overs later, Pope hit McBryn for six over his head and earned the fastest double century in England with 207 balls. Pope was stumped on the next ball, leading to a declaration.