England all-rounder Sam Curran produced a dramatic turnaround in the opening T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, sealing a memorable hat-trick after enduring a difficult start with the ball. Curran’s heroics in the penultimate over proved decisive in a rain-affected contest, helping England restrict the hosts to a modest 133 in a 17-overs-per-side match.
Sam Curran’s hat-trick leaves Sri Lanka reeling
Curran’s day initially appeared to be slipping away after he was taken apart earlier in the innings, conceding 20 runs in a single over and leaking 35 runs from his first two overs. Sri Lanka’s batters looked in control during the Powerplay, racing to 76 runs in just seven overs and threatening to post a challenging total despite the shortened format.
However, the left-arm all-rounder showcased his composure and skill at the death when it mattered most. Bowling the penultimate over, Curran ripped through Sri Lanka’s lower order with three consecutive wickets, completely swinging the momentum back in England’s favour.
Curran’s hat-trick came in sensational fashion as he dismissed Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana off successive deliveries. The sequence not only wiped out Sri Lanka’s finishing options but also halted any late charge that could have lifted them beyond England’s reach.
With that spell, Curran finished with figures of 3 for 38, an impressive recovery considering how his opening overs had unfolded. The hat-trick made him only the second England bowler to achieve the feat in men’s T20 Internationals.
Here’s the video:
A T20I hat-trick for England is rarer than a sunny day in London, and Sam Curran just found one ☀️🎳
He becomes just the second English bowler to pick a T20I hat-trick 🔥
.
.
[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 previously took a T20I hat-trick for England against the USA during the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Also READ: Not England! Phil Salt names the strongest team in the T20 World Cup 2026
England takes early lead in the three-match series
England’s chase had its share of nervy moments early on. The powerplay proved eventful as both Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell were removed by Eshan Malinga, leaving England briefly unsettled. Matters could have worsened when Phil Salt was handed a major reprieve, with Kamil Mishara spilling a tough chance at deep midwicket off Wanindu Hasaranga’s very first ball.
Even without the wickets to show for it, Matheesha Pathirana caused plenty of discomfort. Bowling with his trademark slingy action, he hurried batters and kept them guessing, echoing the menace once associated with Lasith Malinga. The rewards, however, didn’t quite arrive.
Stability came through Tom Banton, who was promoted to No. 4 due to Ben Duckett’s injury. Banton injected much-needed momentum with a bright cameo, scoring 29 off just 14 deliveries and shifting the tempo back in England’s favour. From there, Salt took control, anchoring the innings with a calm and confident 46 from 35 balls. He narrowly missed out on what would have been his fifth T20I fifty in just eight innings.
England completed the run-chase in 15 overs with 6 wickets in hand.
Also READ: Australia pacer Pat Cummins ruled out of T20 World Cup 2026; replacement announced
For latest cricket news & updates, visit CricketTimes.com.
