Historic Hat Trick by Sam Curran
In a thrilling encounter at Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Sam Curran etched his name in history by becoming only the second English cricketer to record a hat trick in Twenty20 internationals. This remarkable feat came during the first match of the T20 series against Sri Lanka, where England triumphed by a narrow margin of 11 runs, aided by the DLS method due to rain interruptions.
Match Overview
The match was drastically altered by rain, which resulted in Sri Lanka only managing to face 17 overs before being all out for 133 runs, leaving four deliveries remaining. With rain truncating England’s innings after 15 overs, they concluded their innings at 125 for four, securing the win through the DLS calculations.
Sam Curran’s Performance
Curran initially struggled, conceding 35 runs in his first two overs, but dramatically turned the tide with a stellar final over where he claimed three wickets in consecutive deliveries, wrapping up his figures at 3 for 38. This capstone moment marked him as the second England player to achieve a T20 hat trick, following in the footsteps of Chris Jordan, who had previously accomplished this against the United States during the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Preparation for the T20 World Cup
As the final preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka are underway, this three-match series serves as an essential rehearsal for both teams. During the early stages of the match, Sri Lanka raced to a healthy score of 76 for 1, largely thanks to Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, before enduring a sharp decline initiated by England’s spin attack featuring Adil Rashid (3 wickets for 19 runs) and Liam Dawson (2 for 31).
England’s Batting Highlights
In response, England’s batting was equally explosive at the outset, with Phil Salt leading the charge by scoring 46 runs from 35 balls, despite some close calls with dropped catches. Jos Buttler kicked off the chase with a flurry of boundaries against Eshan Malinga, setting a tone of aggression. Tom Banton contributed a brisk 29 runs off just 15 balls, while Harry Brook finished the innings with a steady 16 not out.
Upcoming Matches
The teams will meet again on Sunday for the second match, with a decisive final clash scheduled for Tuesday.
