PALLEKELE — In a rain-affected thriller at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, England clinched a dramatic 11-run victory over Sri Lanka via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, with the defining moment of the match belonging to Sam Curran. The left-arm seamer etched his name into the history books by claiming England’s second-ever T20 international hat-trick, a stunning burst that turned the tide decisively in the tourists' favor and secured a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
A Rain-Interrupted Start and a Strong Foundation
After being put into bat, England’s innings was a story of two distinct phases, heavily dictated by the weather. Openers Jos Buttler and Phil Salt provided a characteristically aggressive start, racing to 54 without loss in just 5.2 overs. Their partnership was laced with power, with Salt in particular taking a liking to the Sri Lankan seamers. However, the first of several rain interruptions halted their momentum. Upon resumption, the loss of Salt for 38 triggered a mini-collapse. Buttler fell soon after for a brisk 28, and the middle order struggled to find fluency on a pitch offering increasing turn.
The standout performer for England with the bat was the returning Moeen Ali. Promoted to number three, Moeen played a crucial, anchoring innings. He navigated the tricky conditions expertly, mixing sensible defence with calculated aggression to top-score with an unbeaten 28 from 15 balls. His late flourish, including two sixes in the final over from Matheesha Pathirana, propelled England to a competitive total of 128 for 6 from their allotted 16 overs after the match was shortened. Key contributions that built the platform included:
- Phil Salt's Powerplay Blitz: 38 runs from 22 balls, setting a rapid early tempo.
- Moeen Ali's Anchoring Knock: A vital, unbeaten 28* that provided stability and a late surge.
- Adil Rashid's Late Cameo: A quickfire 11* from 4 balls in a crucial 19-run final partnership with Moeen.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers, led by the impressive young spinner Wanindu Hasaranga (2/25), did well to drag England back after the explosive start, but the late hitting proved costly.
The Curran Cataclysm: A Hat-Trick for the Ages
Defending a revised DLS target of 137 from 16 overs, England needed early wickets. Reece Topley provided the initial breakthrough, but Sri Lanka’s dangerous openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, began to find their rhythm. At 70 for 2 in the 9th over, with Mendis looking set, the game was finely poised. Enter Sam Curran for his second spell.
The sequence that followed was a masterclass in death bowling and nerve. With his first ball of the 15th over, Curran deceived the well-set Kusal Mendis (25) with a slower ball, eliciting a miscue to deep mid-wicket. The very next delivery, a perfectly executed yorker, crashed into the base of Sri Lankan captain Wanindu Hasaranga’s off-stump before he could bring his bat down. The stadium fell silent as Maheesh Theekshana walked out, facing a hat-trick ball with the weight of the match on his shoulders.
Curran, calm amidst the frenzy, went full and straight once more. Theekshana, aiming to work the ball to leg, could only manage a leading edge that looped gently back to the bowler. Curran pouched the catch, let out a roar of triumph, and was immediately mobbed by his ecstatic teammates. "It's a pretty special feeling," Curran said after the match. "To get a hat-trick for your country is something you dream of as a kid. I was just trying to bowl yorkers, and it's nice when a plan comes together like that in a tight situation."
The Anatomy of a Hat-Trick
Curran’s triple strike was not just about luck; it was a display of intelligent variation and execution under extreme pressure:
- Ball 1 (to Mendis): A clever off-cutter, taking pace off, forcing the batter to generate all the power and resulting in a tame catch.
- Ball 2 (to Hasaranga): A pinpoint, fast yorker, the gold standard of death bowling, giving the new batter no chance.
- Ball 3 (to Theekshana): Another full, straight delivery, cramping the batter for room and inducing the simplest of return catches.
This historic feat placed Curran in an exclusive club, joining Stuart Broad as the only Englishmen to have taken a T20I hat-trick. The wickets completely shattered Sri Lanka’s chase, reducing them from a position of strength at 70/2 to a desperate 76/5 in the space of four legitimate deliveries.
Closing the Deal and Series Implications
Despite the monumental setback of Curran’s hat-trick, Sri Lanka showed commendable fight. Dasun Shanaka threatened with a defiant 65 from just 34 balls, a blistering innings that included seven sixes and kept the hosts in the hunt until the very end. He found a willing partner in Dilshan Madushanka, with their late partnership causing some nervous moments in the English camp.
The responsibility to close the game fell to England’s experienced campaigners. Chris Jordan, renowned for his death-bowling expertise, held his nerve in the final over. With 18 needed, Jordan executed his yorkers and slower balls to perfection, conceding only six runs and sealing the victory. Captain Jos Buttler was full of praise for his team’s resilience, stating, "It was a fantastic game of cricket. The way the guys adapted after the rain breaks was brilliant. Sam's over was obviously the turning point – a special moment in the game and a credit to his skill and temperament."
Conclusion: A Statement Win Built on Nerve
England’s victory in Pallekele was a compelling team performance forged in challenging conditions. While Moeen Ali’s intelligent batting provided the necessary runs, the night unquestionably belonged to Sam Curran. His hat-trick was a moment of individual brilliance that shifted the entire momentum of a tight contest, showcasing the match-winning X-factor he brings to the side. The win also highlighted the depth of England’s bowling attack, with Topley’s early strike and Jordan’s ice-cool finish complementing Curran’s heroics. For Sri Lanka, the crushing nature of the defeat, despite Shanaka’s heroics, will be a tough pill to swallow. As the series moves forward, England will carry not just a 1-0 lead, but also the immense confidence born from knowing they can win the big moments under pressure, especially with a bowler capable of producing history-making spells like the one delivered by Sam Curran in Pallekele.