Ollie Pope silenced his critics by scoring an unbeaten 103 runs on the first day of England's third Test against Sri Lanka at The Kia Oval, after struggling in previous matches with only 30 runs in four innings as captain. Despite challenging conditions ideal for bowling due to overcast skies, England ended the day at 221-3, with Ben Duckett contributing a strong 86 runs. The match faced interruptions due to bad light, but Pope's performance marked his seventh Test century and was crucial in establishing a solid position for England, who are already leading the series 2-0. Sri Lanka, having opted to field first, failed to capitalize on the conditions, and even Joe Root was dismissed for just 13 runs. England aims for a series clean sweep, looking for their first 100% home summer in two decades. The day ended prematurely due to light issues, with Pope and Harry Brook set to continue on Saturday.