The cricket world stood in collective awe on Friday, January 30, as Sam Curran etched his name into the history books during the series opener between England and Sri Lanka. In a rain-curtailed 1st T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Curran turned a high-pressure situation into a masterclass of death bowling. With the floodlights gleaming off a damp surface, the left-arm seamer dismantled the Sri Lankan tail with a clinical hat-trick, leaving the local fans stunned and social media in a frenzy.
The match, reduced to 17 overs per side due to persistent tropical showers, initially looked like it might slip away from England as Sri Lanka’s top order came out swinging. However, the narrative shifted dramatically in the 16th over. Curran, who had been expensive in his earlier spells, found his rhythm exactly when Harry Brook needed him most. His triple-strike not only halted the momentum of the “Lions” but also solidified his reputation as one of the most clutch performers in the shortest format of the game.
Sam Curran’s sensational hattrick stuns Sri Lanka in 1st T20I
Entering the 15.4 over mark, Sri Lanka was looking to launch a final assault at 129/6. Dasun Shanaka, who had been looking dangerous with a couple of towering sixes, attempted to slap a length ball over mid-off. However, the timing wasn’t there, and the ball found the safe hands of Brook. The very next ball (15.5) saw Maheesh Theekshana attempt a wild hoick to a full delivery, only to pick out Jamie Overton at long-on.
The tension in Pallekele was palpable as Matheesha Pathirana walked out to face the hat-trick ball. Coming from around the wicket, Curran fired a pinpoint, searing delivery targeted at the base of the middle and off stumps. Pathirana was beaten for pace and swing, losing his stumps ‘neck and crop.’ Curran’s trademark celebration, arms spread wide told the story. He became only the second Englishman to claim a T20I hat-trick, finishing the over with remarkable figures of 3 for 38 after starting it with 0 for 35 after first 2 overs.
Here’s how fans reacted:
SAM CURRAN TOOK A HATTRICK IN THE T20I AGAINST SRI LANKA. 🔥#samcurran #ausvssl #AusOpen #curran #CricketTwitter #ENGvsSL pic.twitter.com/IL3ZYwyaDm
— I’m Vishal (@Vishalrajpatna) January 30, 2026
🚨 HAT-TRICK FOR SAM CURRAN IN T20I AGAINST SRI LANKA 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Dk3IPq1pyo
— Annu🦋🦋 (@Miss_annu008) January 30, 2026
SAM CURRAN TOOK A HATRICK IN THE T20I AGAINST SRILANKA
– Incredible from Sam Curran 🥶pic.twitter.com/ko1IAsFGMX
— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) January 30, 2026
SAM CURRAN TAKES A HAT-TRICK IN THE 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
Second English bowler to take a Hat-Trick in T20Is for England is SAM CURRAN 💥 @englandcricket #SamCurran #SLvENG #England #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/n2V3CPSmwW
— the_cricket_web (@the_cricket_web) January 30, 2026
🚨 HISTORY FOR SAM CURRAN 🚨
– Sam Curran becomes the second player to picked Hattrick in T20I for England in History. 😱
– Gets Shanaka, Gets Theekshana, Gets Pathirana. pic.twitter.com/50cHYbKaZP
— Chetana Meena (@ChetanaMee17662) January 30, 2026
Sam Curran — Hat-trick heropic.twitter.com/otQCRhFJwh
— Arshy (@imArshit) January 30, 2026
Shanaka ❌
Theekshana ❌
Pathirana ❌Sam Curran becomes just 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 blower to Hattrick in T20Is for England T20I history.
– Gets Dasun Shanaka
– Gets Maheesh Theekshana.
– Gets Matheesha Pathirana pic.twitter.com/6GBtUI2Me8— CricPal (@AnupPalAgt) January 30, 2026
England’s disciplined bowling suffocate Sri Lanka to a low score
While Curran’s hat-trick provided the final blow, the foundation for England’s dominance was laid much earlier by the spin duo of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. Despite a rapid start from Kusal Mendis (37 off 20) and Pathum Nissanka (23 off 20) that saw Sri Lanka race to 50 runs in just 4.5 overs, the English bowlers maintained their composure. Rashid was particularly miserly, strangling the middle order to finish with 3 for 19 across his four overs.
The Sri Lankan innings folded for 133 in 16.2 overs, a total that felt significantly under par given the lightning-fast start they enjoyed. Key wickets fell at regular intervals: Charith Asalanka fell to Dawson for 5, and Dhananjaya de Silva was dismissed by Rashid just as he looked to settle. The lower order offered little resistance against the pace of Overton and the late-inning heroics of Curran.
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