Ollie Pope showcased his resilience and talent by scoring an unbeaten 103, leading England to 221-3 on the opening day of the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval. This performance came after Pope faced scrutiny for his recent poor form, averaging just 7.50 in his previous four innings as stand-in captain. Despite challenging weather conditions that led to interruptions due to bad light, Pope's century marked his seventh in Test cricket, a record as the first player to achieve his first seven centuries against different teams. His teammate, Ben Duckett, also contributed significantly with a fluid 86 runs. However, frustrations arose from the umpires' decision to halt play after only 15 overs due to light conditions, which sparked debate among fans and commentators about the regulations governing Test cricket. England aims to secure a 3-0 series victory as they continue their quest for a perfect summer of home Tests.