Sam Curran’s historic hat-trick leads England to rout of Sri Lanka in rain-affected first T20I

England Kicked off their three-match T20I series in dominant fashion with an 11-match win over Sri Lanka Passed the DLS approach in Friday’s opener in heavy rain. In a game that was interrupted several times by weather, the visiting team kept their composure at a crucial stage, Sam Curran Write history with a stunning hat-trick Phil Salter Provides calm authority to senior management during pursuits. As a result, England leads Sri Lanka 1-0 in the short series.

Sri Lanka’s good start ruined by spin squeeze

Persistent rain forced the match to be reduced to 17 overs per side, with England opting to bowl first, a decision that initially looked risky. Sri Lanka’s opener was deliberate Where is Mendy? A smooth 37 off 20 balls Pathum Nissanka Contributed 23 copies to the delivered quantity. The pair took full advantage of the new hard ball to reduce the home side to 75/1 after seven overs, and despite the reduced format, they were still on course to post a formidable total.

Once England started spinning, the momentum shifted dramatically. Adil Rashid Hit the brakes with a detection spell of 3/19 while Liam Dawson Added him 2/31. The middle order became a minefield for Sri Lanka’s batsmen, with wickets falling at regular intervals and boundary options drying up.

Sam Curran’s Fantastic Rewrite of the Script

The decisive moment came in the 16th inning. After an expensive start, Curran returned and created a spell that will last for the ages. left hand fired Dasan Shanaka, Mahesh Tikshanaand Mathisha Patilana With three consecutive deliveries, he became the second English bowler to complete a T20I hat-trick. His outburst absolutely destroyed the lowly Sri Lankan team, reducing them to 133 and ensuring that England remained firmly on top of the innings.

Also read: Fans cheer as Sam Curran shocks Sri Lanka with hat-trick in rain-affected first T20I at Palleke

Phil Salt sets the tone as England stay at the top of DLS

England’s reply was deliberate from the start. Salter, bowling the first ball of the six-man chase, announced his mood and immediately eased the nerves. Sri Lanka fights back Eshan Malingawhose double whammy was removed If the housekeeper and Jacob Bethelbriefly putting the hosts back into contention.

Salter remained unfazed and steadied the innings with a well-judged 46 off 35 balls, spinning the bat and punishing loose deliveries. He was supported by Tom Banton, who scored 29 goals from just 15 balls to give the team momentum. Their partnership ensured England were comfortably ahead of the required pace.

When the final downpour ended in 15 overs, England were comfortably ranked at 125/4, well ahead of the DLS’s par score of 114. Since the game could no longer be played, the officials awarded the game to the visiting team.