The England top-order batter had gone 21 innings without reaching triple figures since his outstanding 257 against Pakistan in 2020. And Crawley had only reached 50 in two of those 21 innings, one of a number of English players to struggle in the top three over recent years.
Veerasammy Permaul thought he had burgled a wicket shortly before tea, appealing that a Crawley under-edge had bounced straight back up off his boot and into the hands of slip.