New Delhi, India

England's stand-in captain Ollie Pope brushed aside claims of the home team being complacent following their eight-wicket loss to Sri Lanka in the third and final Test at The Oval, London on Monday (Sep 9). On Day 4, Sri Lanka needed another 125 runs to win -- chasing 219 -- and stormed past the target with eight wickets in hand, courtesy of opener Pathum Nissanka's unbeaten 127 and good support from Kusal Mendis (39) and Angelo Mathews (32*). Pope reckoned that England weren't complacent in the final Test, after an unassailable 2-0 lead, and blamed his side's batting in their second innings for the loss.

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After the match, Pope said, "I don't think it was complacency at all. It's been a long summer, but that's nothing to do with the fact we lost this game. We still came to play with the same intentions, but this game, for some reason, it didn't quite come off. We didn't get enough runs after having a first-innings lead and I'd probably put it down to that."

He further opined, "It was just one of those days where it didn't come off. We played some really good cricket throughout the series and then in a couple of weeks' time we'll be able to look back on that day three, reflect on it and make a decision then."

Also read: 'They disrespected Test cricket': Michael Vaughan slams England after disappointing loss at Oval

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England were asked to bat first in the third and final Test and rode on Pope's 154 to post 325. In reply, the Lankans only managed 263; conceding a 62-run lead. However, the visitors changed the complexion of the game during England's second essay, bundling them out for a paltry 156 courtesy of Lahiru Kumara's 4 for 21 and Vishwa Fernando's 3 for 40. Pope, hence, blamed his side's ordinary showing with the bat on Day 3 for the loss.

Pope added, "It's disappointing not to be on the right side of the result. Day three, we probably shot ourselves in the foot a little bit. We weren't at our best and credit to Sri Lanka. The way Nissanka played was high-class and they deserved to win this Test. But we weren't at our best as well."

Pope led the side in the absence of regular Test captain Ben Stokes, out of action due to a hamstring injury. The Oval Test also marked the end of England's home Test season in the ongoing English summer. They will now host Australia in three T20Is and five ODIs.