England's cricket team suffered an eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the final Test at The Oval, with captain Ollie Pope acknowledging that his side was 'outplayed' in the last day and a session after a strong start. England, having secured a 62-run lead in the first innings, collapsed for just 156 runs in their second innings, allowing Sri Lanka to chase down a target of 219 with ease, highlighted by Pathum Nissanka's unbeaten century. Despite winning five out of six matches this summer, Pope expressed disappointment at the lack of performance in this match and denied any lack of motivation among the players. Assistant coach Paul Collingwood also noted the team's struggles, attributing their poor showing to a misfire rather than complacency. Joe Root was named player of the series but managed only 25 runs in the final match, reflecting the team's overall decline in form. This defeat overshadowed what was otherwise a successful summer for England, which included a series win against the West Indies.