The cricketing world was collectively enthralled on Friday, January 30 Sam Curran He etched his name in the history books during the series opener England and Sri Lanka. In the rain-interrupted 1st T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Curran turned the high-pressure situation into a death bowling masterclass. With floodlights glinting off the wet surface, the left-arm seamer stunned the home fans and left social media in a frenzy as he took down the Sri Lankan tail with a clinical hat-trick.
Reduced to 17 overs due to persistent tropical showers, the match could have gone away from England initially as Sri Lanka’s top order faltered. But in ’16, the story changed dramatically. Expensive in his previous spells, Curran found his rhythm exactly when Harry Brooke he needed her the most. His triple hit not only halted the Lions’ momentum but cemented his reputation as one of the most clutch performers in the game’s shortest format.
Sam Curran’s sensational hat-trick stunned Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I
Entering the 15.4 over mark, Sri Lanka looked to launch a final attack at 129/6. Dasun ShanakaLooking dangerous with a few strong sixes, he tried to slap the length ball in the middle. But the time wasn’t there and the ball found Brook’s safe hands. He saw the next ball (15.5). Mahesh Theekshana Try wild hoick for full delivery, just to choose Jamie Overton for a long time.
The tension in Pallekele was palpable Matheesha Pathirana out to face the hat-trick ball. Coming from around cover, Curran hit a precise point that was aimed at the bottom of the middle and outside stumps. Pathirana was beaten for pace and swing, lost his stumps “neck and crop”. Curran told the story with brand celebration, arms wide open. He became the second Englishman to claim a T20I hat-trick and finished with remarkable figures of 38 for 3 after starting with 0 for 35 after the first 2 innings.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
SAM CURRAN HATS T20I HATTRICK AGAINST SRI LANKA. 🔥#samcurran #ausvssl #AusOpen #garran #CricketTwitter #ENGvsSL pic.twitter.com/IL3ZYwyaDm
— I’m Vishal (@Vishalrajpatna) January 30, 2026
🚨 T20I HAT TRICK FOR SAM CURRAN AGAINST SRI LANKA 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Dk3IPq1pyo
— Annu🦋🦋 (@Miss_annu008) January 30, 2026
SAM CURRAN HITS HATRIC AGAINST SRI LANKA in T20I
– Incredible 🥶 from Sam Curranpic.twitter.com/ko1IAsFGMX
— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) January 30, 2026
SAM CURRAN HAT-TRICK T20I AGAINST SRI LANKA 🔥
— Dhiraj (@dhiraj01_) January 30, 2026
Knock Knock 🔥🔥
Hat Trick by Sam Curran #SLvENG #T20Is https://t.co/wq5RMgYEpu
— Cricket Mindset (@CricketMindset) January 30, 2026
SAM CURRAN is the second English bowler to take a hat-trick for England in T20Is 💥 @englandcricket #SamCurran #SLvENG #England #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/n2V3CPSmwW
— the_cricket_web (@the_cricket_web) January 30, 2026
🚨 DATE FOR SAM CURRAN 🚨
– Sam Curran became the second player in history to take a hat-trick in T20Is for England. 😱
– He takes Shanaka, he takes Teeksha, he takes Pathirana. pic.twitter.com/50cHYbKaZP
— Chetana Meena (@ChetanaMee17662) January 30, 2026
Sam Curran — Hat-trick heropic.twitter.com/otQCRhFJwh
— Arshi (@imArshit) January 30, 2026
Shanaka❌
Theekshana❌
Pathirana❌Sam Curran becomes the second man to take a hat-trick for England in T20Is! 🔥 #SLvENG pic.twitter.com/YTTnFmajXT
— Nadhvi Irfan (@nadhvi_irfan) January 30, 2026
History by Sam Curran, he is the 2nd batsman for a Hattrick in T20Is for England T20I history.
– Dasun takes Shanaka
– Maheesh gets Theekshana.
– Matheesha gets Pathirana pic.twitter.com/6GBtUI2Me8— CricPal (@AnupPalAgt) January 30, 2026
England’s disciplined bowling stifles Sri Lanka for a low score
Although Curran’s hat-trick provided the final blow, England’s dominance had been laid earlier by the spin duo. Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. Despite the fast start Where in Mandy (37 off 20) and Pathum Nissanka (20 from 23) England’s bowlers kept their cool as they saw Sri Lanka race to 50 runs in just 4.5 overs. Rashid was particularly stingy, suffocating the middle order to finish with 3 for 19 in four overs.
Sri Lanka’s innings reached 133 in 16.2 overs, which felt significantly low given the lightning-fast start they enjoyed. The main gates fell regularly: Charith Asalanka Dawson fell for 5 and Dhananjaya de Silva He was fired by Rashid over the matter. The lower order offered little resistance to Overton’s pace and Curran’s late batting heroics.
