Pallekele, Sri Lanka – Sam Curran delivered a sensational hat-trick on Thursday, January 30, 2026, propelling England to an 11-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening Twenty20 International. The rain-affected match, held in Pallekele, saw England take a crucial 1-0 lead in the three-match series, which serves as a key warm-up for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Curran's Heroics After Tough Start
Left-arm pacer Sam Curran claimed England’s second-ever T20 International hat-trick during Sri Lanka's innings. He achieved the feat by dismissing Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, and Matheesha Pathirana with consecutive deliveries in the 16th over. Curran first had Shanaka caught, then Theekshana, before bowling Pathirana to complete the rare milestone.[independent+9]
This remarkable bowling effort came after Curran had a challenging start, conceding 35 runs in his first two overs. Hisability to bounce back proved decisive in restricting Sri Lanka. "Pretty cool to say I've got a hat-trick but a weird night personally after getting a bit of tap in the first couple of overs!" Curran told reporters after the match. He added that "T20 is such an up and down thing. A fantastic win, we take a lot of confidence from our first T20 win. Really special."[skysports+8]
England's Dominant Start to Series
The match, reduced to 17 overs per side due to persistent rain, saw Sri Lanka batting first and being bowled out for 133 runs in 16.2 overs. England's spinners also played a vital role in dismantling the Sri Lankan batting lineup. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid was particularly effective, taking three wickets for just 19 runs from his four overs.[independent+5]
Inresponse, England's chase was anchored by opener Phil Salt, who scored a fluent 46 runs off 35 balls. England was 125 for 4 in 15 overs when rain intervened again, leading to a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method victory by 11 runs. England captain Harry Brook praised the team's performance. "Our execution was good tonight," Brook stated. "Weare happy with the progress we have made and it's all about building up nicely for the World Cup. Sam Curran was awesome. He had a tough start tonight, but he bounced back so well."[theguardian+25]
Crucial World Cup Preparations Underway
This three-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka is a critical part of England's preparations for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on February 7, 2026. Theteam aims to fine-tune their strategies and combinations in conditions similar to what they might face in the upcoming global tournament.[independent+4]
England's victory provides a significant confidence boost as they look ahead to their World Cup campaign. The next two matches in the series will also be played at the same venue in Pallekele, offering more opportunities for both teams to prepare. England will travel to Mumbai to face Nepal in their T20 World Cup opener on February 8. Theteam hopes to maintain their winning momentum and build a strong foundation for a successful World Cup challenge.[independent+5]
