[WATCH] Sam Curran Claims Hat-Trick In SL vs ENG 2026 1st T20I

England and Rajasthan Royals pacer Sam Curran became only the second English bowler to register a T20I hat-trick, achieving the feat in the opening match of the series against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Stadium on Friday. He joined Chris Jordan in an elite list after dismissing Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, and Matheesha Pathirana.

The hat-trick came in the 16th over when England skipper Harry Brook handed Curran his third over. The left-arm seamer kept things tight early, giving away just four runs off the first three balls. On the fourth delivery, Shanaka hit the ball straight to mid-off, where Brook took a comfortable catch.

Theekshana followed soon after, mistiming his shot to long-on and finding Jamie Overton, before Curran wrapped up the hat-trick by bowling Pathirana with a well-pitched fuller ball. You can watch the video here:

A T20I hat-trick for England is rarer than a sunny day in London, and Sam Curran just found one ☀️🎳

He becomes just the second English bowler to pick a T20I hat-trick 🔥

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[Sam Curran, Wickets, Hat-trick, England, History, Sri Lanka, Fast Bowling] pic.twitter.com/Q88tv6S3AG

— FanCode (@FanCode) January 30, 2026

The 27-year-old had a tough outing in the preceding ODI series, picking up just two wickets across three matches and contributing only five runs in his lone batting appearance.

Sam Curran’s Hat-Trick Powers England To 1-0 Lead With First T20I Win

Rain delayed the start of the opening T20I, forcing the match to be reduced to 17 overs per side. Sam Curran returned figures of 3/38, while leg-spinner Adil Rashid impressed with 3/19 from four overs. Jamie Overton and Liam Dawson chipped in with two wickets each, helping England bowl Sri Lanka out for 133 in 16.2 overs.

Kusal Mendis was the lone bright spot for the hosts, striking a brisk 37 off 20 balls that included four fours and two sixes, but Sri Lanka still ended up with an underwhelming total. In reply, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler gave England a flying start, racing to 36 runs in just 2.5 overs. Buttler was dismissed for 17, and Jacob Bethell managed only nine.

Tom Banton then provided a lively cameo, scoring 29 from 15 deliveries. Rain interrupted play again with England needing just nine runs from the last two overs, during which Salt fell for 46. With England 11 runs ahead on the DLS calculation, they were declared winners. The second T20I is scheduled to be played at the same venue on February 1.

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