Having rejuvenated the side with new blood at the start of the season, England completed a 3-0 clean sweep over the West Indies and were on course for an identical result against Sri Lanka after brushing them aside at Old Trafford and Lord’s.
But despite a fine century from Pope, his first as stand-in skipper for the injured Ben Stokes, the hosts surrendered the initiative at the Oval with a handful of costly errors.
They lost a cluster of wickets to go from 261 for three to 325 all out in the first innings and saw things get even worse in their second as they collapsed for 156 in 34 chaotic overs.
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka then made them pay as his unbeaten 127 carried the tourists to an eight-wicket victory, ruining England’s chance of winning every Test in a home season since 2004.
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