Watch: Ollie Pope denied maiden triple century by part-timer with, before today, no first-class wickets

Ollie Pope’s pursuit of a maiden first-class triple hundred was brought to an abrupt end by Glamorgan’s Hamish Rutherford, a bowler who, at best, can be described as ‘part-time’.

Surrey’s Division Two County Championship clash against Glamorgan at The Oval was a proper run-fest, with the visitors declaring 28 runs short of 700 in their first innings, before Surrey passed the 700-mark after losing just four wickets.

Pope and Hashim Amla put on 362 for the third wicket – the second highest partnership in this year’s Championship and the second time the pair have put on more than 250 in 2021.

As the game petered out to a bore draw, the only remaining point of interest was whether or not Pope could reach his first career triple hundred which, given Glamorgan’s heavy use of part-time bowling looked a near certainty. All 11 Glamorgan players were brought on to bowl at one point or another, including wicketkeeper Chris Cooke, who had never previously delivered a ball in first-class cricket.

New Zealand batter Hamish Rutherford was the man to dismiss Pope. Rutherford, playing in his 115th first-class game, had never previously taken a wicket in the format. Bowling left-arm spin, Rutherford beat Pope with a slow, short delivery that the Surrey and England youngster try to pummel over the leg-side. Pope didn’t get any contact on the ball and was bowled for 274, his career-best score.

That wicket brought Rikki Clarke to the crease in his last game as a professional cricket. Clarke retires after a decorated career that saw him play 22 times for England and win the County Championship on three occasions, twice with Surrey (in 2002 and 2018) and Warwickshire (in 2012).

You can watch Rutherford’s dismissal of Pope below:

In his 115th first-class match, Hamish Rutherford has his maiden wicket

…and it’s Ollie Pope at last

https://t.co/VySAykkRyl#SURvGLAM l #GoGlam pic.twitter.com/hHK6J6BxMT

— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) September 24, 2021

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