The cricket world stood in collective awe on Friday, January 30, as Sam Curran etched his identify into the historical past books through the collection opener between England and Sri Lanka. In a rain-curtailed 1st T20I on the Pallekele Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Curran turned a high-pressure scenario right into a masterclass of demise bowling. With the floodlights gleaming off a moist floor, the left-arm seamer dismantled the Sri Lankan tail with a medical hat-trick, leaving the native followers shocked and social media in a frenzy.
The match, diminished to 17 overs per aspect as a consequence of persistent tropical showers, initially seemed prefer it may slip away from England as Sri Lanka’s high order got here out swinging. Nonetheless, the narrative shifted dramatically within the sixteenth over. Curran, who had been costly in his earlier spells, discovered his rhythm precisely when Harry Brook wanted him most. His triple-strike not solely halted the momentum of the “Lions” but additionally solidified his fame as one of the clutch performers within the shortest format of the sport.
Sam Curran’s sensational hattrick stuns Sri Lanka in 1st T20I
Getting into the 15.4 over mark, Sri Lanka was seeking to launch a remaining assault at 129/6. Dasun Shanaka, who had been trying harmful with a few towering sixes, tried to slap a size ball over mid-off. Nonetheless, the timing wasn’t there, and the ball discovered the secure fingers of Brook. The very subsequent ball (15.5) noticed Maheesh Theekshana try a wild hoick to a full supply, solely to pick Jamie Overton at long-on.
The stress in Pallekele was palpable as Matheesha Pathirana walked out to face the hat-trick ball. Coming from across the wicket, Curran fired a pinpoint, searing supply focused on the base of the center and off stumps. Pathirana was overwhelmed for tempo and swing, shedding his stumps ‘neck and crop.’ Curran’s trademark celebration, arms unfold vast informed the story. He turned solely the second Englishman to assert a T20I hat-trick, ending the over with exceptional figures of three for 38 after beginning it with 0 for 35 after first 2 overs.
Additionally READ: SL vs ENG, T20I Sequence: Broadcast, Reside Streaming particulars – When and the place to observe in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, UK & different international locations
Right here’s how followers reacted:
SAM CURRAN TOOK A HATTRICK IN THE T20I AGAINST SRI LANKA. 🔥#samcurran #ausvssl #AusOpen #curran #CricketTwitter #ENGvsSL pic.twitter.com/IL3ZYwyaDm
— I am 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
– Unbelievable 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 turns into the second participant to picked Hattrick in T20I for England in Historical past. 😱
– Will get Shanaka, Will get Theekshana, Will get 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 turns into simply the second man to take a hat-trick for England in T20Is! 🔥 #SLvENG pic.twitter.com/YTTnFmajXT
— Nadhvi Irfan (@nadhvi_irfan) January 30, 2026
Historical past by Sam Curran, he’s the 2nd blower to Hattrick in T20Is for England T20I historical past.
– Will get Dasun Shanaka
– Will get Maheesh Theekshana.
– Will get Matheesha Pathirana pic.twitter.com/6GBtUI2Me8— CricPal (@AnupPalAgt) January 30, 2026
England’s disciplined bowling suffocate Sri Lanka to a low rating
Whereas Curran’s hat-trick offered the ultimate blow, the inspiration for England’s dominance was laid a lot earlier by the spin duo of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. Regardless of a fast begin from Kusal Mendis (37 off 20) and Pathum Nissanka (23 off 20) that noticed Sri Lanka race to 50 runs in simply 4.5 overs, the English bowlers maintained their composure. Rashid was notably miserly, strangling the center order to complete with 3 for 19 throughout his 4 overs.
The Sri Lankan innings folded for 133 in 16.2 overs, a complete that felt considerably below par given the lightning-fast begin they loved. Key wickets fell at common intervals: Charith Asalanka fell to Dawson for five, and Dhananjaya de Silva was dismissed by Rashid simply as he seemed to settle. The decrease order supplied little resistance in opposition to the tempo of Overton and the late-inning heroics of Curran.
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