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On Friday, January 30, the cricketing world collectively gasped Sam Curran Etching his name in the history books in the series opener England and Sri Lanka. Curran turned a high-pressure situation into a masterclass of death bowling due to heavy rain in the first T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. The floodlights shimmered on the wet ground as the left-arm seamer dismantled Sri Lanka’s tailback with a clinical hat-trick that left local fans stunned and social media going into a frenzy.
The match, reduced to 17 overs per side due to persistent tropical showers, initially looked like it might slip from England’s hands as Sri Lanka’s top spot faltered. However, the story took a dramatic turn in the 16th inning. Curran has been expensive in his early performances, but he’s finding his rhythm precisely at this time. Harry Brooke He is needed most. His triple not only halted the Lions’ momentum but cemented his reputation as one of the most clutch players in the game’s shortest game.
Sam Curran stuns Sri Lanka with hat-trick in first T20I
After entering the 15.4-over mark, Sri Lanka looked to launch a final attack with 129/6. darsang shanakaA couple of towering sixes that originally looked dangerous, trying to hit a long ball across mid-off. However, the timing was off and the ball fell safely into Brook’s hands. Next ball (15.5) seen Mahesh Tikshana Tried to deliver like crazy and ended up picking out Jamie Overton in the long term.
The tension in Palleke is palpable Mathisha Patilana Walking out to face a hat-trick ball. Curran bowled a precise, searing delivery from around the wicket, targeting mid-off and outside off-stump. Patialana was outgunned in speed and swing, missing the stumps of his “neck and crop.” Curran’s trademark open-arm celebration told the story. He became the second Englishman to take a hat-trick in T20Is, finishing the game with impressive figures of 3 for 38 after starting with 0 for 35 in the first two overs.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Sam CURRAN takes a hat-trick in the T20I against Sri Lanka. 🔥#samcurran #ausvssl #AustraliaOpen #curran #CricketTwitter #ENGvsSL pic.twitter.com/IL3ZYwyaDm
– I am Vishal (@Vishalrajpatna) January 30, 2026
🚨 Sam Curran takes hat-trick in T20I against Sri Lanka 🚨 pic.twitter.com/Dk3IPq1pyo
— Anu 🦋🦋 (@Miss_annu008) January 30, 2026
SAM CURRAN pulls off a prank during T20I against Sri Lanka
——The incredible 🥶 from Sam Curranpic.twitter.com/ko1IAsFGMX
— Cricket Center (@CricketCentrl) January 30, 2026
SAM CURRAN scores hat-trick in T20I against Sri Lanka 🔥
— Dhiraj (@dhiraj01_) January 30, 2026
Knock knock knock 🔥🔥
Sam Curran hat-trick #SLvENG #T20Is https://t.co/wq5RMgYEpu
– Cricket Mindset (@CricketMindset) January 30, 2026
The second English bowler to take a hat-trick for England in T20Is is SAM CURRAN 💥 @englandcricket #samcurran #SLvENG #england #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/n2V3CPSmwW
— the_cricket_web (@the_cricket_web) January 30, 2026
🚨 The History of Sam Curran 🚨
– Sam Curran became the second player in England’s history to select Hattrick in T20Is. 😱
– Get Shanaka, get Theekshana, 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❌
Tikshana❌
Patirana❌Sam Curran becomes the second player to take a hat-trick for England in T20Is! 🔥 #SLvENG pic.twitter.com/YTTnFmajXT
— Nadhvi Irfan (@nadhvi_irfan) January 30, 2026
The history of Sam Curran, he is the second person in the history of England T20Is to bowl Hattrick in T20Is.
– Get Darsan Shanaka
– Get Maheesh Theekshana.
– Get Matheesha Pathirana pic.twitter.com/6GBtUI2Me8— CricPal (@AnupPalAgt) January 30, 2026
England’s disciplined bowling suffocates Sri Lanka with low scores
While Curran’s hat-trick provided the final blow, the foundations of England’s dominance were laid much earlier by the spin duo Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. Despite a quick start Where is Mendy? (20 minus 37) and Pathum Nissanka (23 out of 20) Sri Lanka reached 50 in just 4.5 overs and the English bowlers kept their cool. Rashid was particularly stingy, killing the middle order with 3 for 19 in four overs.
Sri Lanka posted 133 in 16.2 overs, a significantly below-par total considering their lightning start. Key wickets fell at regular intervals: Charles Asaranka Dawson lost by 5 points, Dhananjaya de Silva Just when Rasheed was looking to settle in, he was fired. The lower order offered little resistance to Overton’s pace and Curran’s late heroics.
