England made an impressive start to their T20I series with Sri Lanka as Sam Curran took a hat-trick as they cruised to an 11-run victory in Pallekele.

After winning the ODI series 2–1, England relied on spinner Adil Rashid and all-rounder Curran to defeat Sri Lanka by 133 runs in a match shortened by 17 overs due to wet conditions. England reached 123-4 before rain brought a premature end to proceedings with captain Harry Brooke’s men at Duckworth-Lewis-Stern.

Kusal Mendis (37) top-scored for the hosts, who overturned a promising start by Rashid and fellow spinner Liam Dawson.

Indeed, Sri Lanka eased from 76-1 to 98-6 in just four overs, with Rashid taking the key wicket of Mendis, who bowled the Yorkshireman to Craig Overton at long-on.

Dasun Shanaka (20) and Wanindu Hasaranga (14) battled for Sri Lanka with a 24-ball 31-run stand for the seventh wicket.

But Curran removed Shanaka, Mahesh Thikshana and Mathesha Pathirana in successive deliveries, before Pathirana got tangled up in middle and off stump with a full ball to dismiss Pathirana round the wicket for his hat-trick.

Overton ended Hasaranga’s spell to close the Sri Lankan innings and, despite Ishan Malinga taking the wicket of Jos Buttler (17) relatively cheaply, the tourists rarely looked in danger of failing to chase down 134.

Phil Salt did most of the heavy lifting for England with 46 off 35 balls, while Tom Benton hit 29 off 15 balls.

Salt was England’s last wicket when he slogged Shanaka over long-on, but by then the hard work was done.

England will face Sri Lanka again at the same venue on Sunday as they aim to win the three-match series.