England comprehensively Sam Curran He produced a dramatic turnaround in the opening T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, scoring a memorable hat-trick after enduring a difficult start with the ball. Curran’s penultimate heroics proved decisive and helped in a rain-affected race. England restrict the hosts to a modest 133 In a 17-overs-each-side match.
Sam Curran’s hat-trick stuns Sri Lanka
Curran’s day was in tatters after initially leaving the innings for 20 runs and 35 runs from his first two overs. Sri Lanka’s batting was in control during the Powerplay, racing to 76 runs for just 7 runs and threatening a tough finish despite the shortened format.
However, the left-arm all-rounder showed his composure and skill at the death. Curran, bowling just before the end, swung the momentum completely back in England’s favor as he swept through Sri Lanka’s lower order with three consecutive wickets.
Curran’s hat-trick was sensational when he was sent off Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana refuse consecutive deliveries. The sequence not only eliminated Sri Lanka’s finishing options, but also put any late charge out of England’s reach.
In that spell, Curran finished with figures of 3 for 3, an impressive recovery considering how the opener went. The hat-trick made him only the second England bowler to achieve the feat in men’s T20 Internationals.
We present the video:
A T20I hat-trick for England is rarer than a sunny day in London and Sam Curran just found it ☀️🎳
He becomes the second English bowler to take a T20I hat-trick 🔥
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(Sam Curran, Wickets, Hat-trick, England, History, Sri Lanka, Fast Bowling) pic.twitter.com/Q88tv6S3AG
— FanCode (@FanCode) January 30, 2026
Curran’s achievement places him alongside Chris Jordan, who earlier scored a T20I hat-trick for England against USA during the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Also READ: Not England! Phil Salt has named the strongest team for T20 World Cup 2026
England take an early lead in the three-match series
England’s chase was full of tense moments from the start. The power play was eventful as both Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell were dismissed by Eshan Malinga and troubled England briefly. Things could have gone from bad to worse when Phil Salt was given a huge reprieve when Kamil Mishara curled a difficult chance off Wanindu Hasaranga’s first ball at deep mid-wicket.
Matheesha caused Pathirana a lot of anxiety. Bowling with his trademark mischievous movement, he hastened the knocks and kept them guessing, mirroring the menace once associated with Lasith Malinga. However, the rewards didn’t exactly come.
Stability has arrived Tom BantonPromoted to No. 4 due to Ben Duckett’s injury. Banton sparked much-needed momentum with a brilliant cameo, scoring 29 off just 14 deliveries and swinging the momentum in England’s favour. From there, Salt took control, anchoring the innings with a calm and confident 46 off 35 balls. He narrowly missed out on a fifth T20I fifty in just eight overs.
England completed the run chase with 15 goals to 6 goals.
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