England’s Sam Curran delivered one of the standout individual performances of the early 2026 season, claiming a hat-trick in the first T20I against Sri Lanka — only the second time an England bowler has achieved a hat-trick in men’s T20 internationals. Curran’s game-changing burst helped skittle Sri Lanka for a modest total in a rain-affected match and set the stage for England’s 11-run win under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method at Pallekele.
Rain reduced Sri Lanka’s innings to 17 overs, but they began strongly, racing to 76 for 1 inside seven overs with good contributions from batters like Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. At that point, Sri Lanka looked set for a competitive total, but England’s bowlers fought back, with spin from Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson creating pressure in the middle overs.
The defining moment came in the 16th over, when Curran produced a remarkable turnaround. Having conceded plenty of runs earlier in the innings, he dismissed Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana with three consecutive deliveries — a perfect hat-trick that sent Sri Lanka’s lower order back to the pavilion and effectively ended their innings.
That feat placed Curran in rare company. Prior to his achievement, Chris Jordan was the only England bowler to take a hat-trick in a men’s T20 international, doing so during the 2024 T20 World Cup against the United States. Curran’s performance makes him only the second English bowler to accomplish the feat in this format, underscoring just how unusual and significant such an achievement is in the shortest international format.
Curran finished with figures of 3 for 38, a return that belied his tough start to the match. The hat-trick came when Sri Lanka had looked capable of a strong finish, and the rapid succession of dismissals not only dismissed their final hopes of a big total but also shifted momentum squarely in England’s favour. It was a reminder of how quickly T20 matches can change — one over, and particularly one bowler’s swing, can define the contest.
In England’s subsequent reply, Phil Salt played a leading role with a measured 46 off 35 balls, helping set up a chase that was eventually cut short by rain. England finished on 125 for 4 in 15 overs, putting them ahead on the DLS par score and sealing the win. Contributions from Tom Banton and Jos Buttler ensured the visitors maintained control of the innings despite some early hiccups.
The hat-trick not only powered England to an early series lead, but also served as a timely confidence booster just days ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to start on 7 February. For Curran personally, it marked a return to the spotlight with an impactful performance after being in and out of England’s plans due to injury concerns and competition for places.
T20 hat-tricks are rare: the format’s rapid pace and emphasis on varied bowling make three consecutive dismissals difficult even for the best bowlers. That Curran’s achievement came in a high-profile international, in a series that is integral to England’s World Cup build-up, elevates its significance further.
As the series continues, England will hope to build on the momentum gained from Curran’s defining over, while Sri Lanka will aim to regroup and find a response that mitigates the impact of such game-turning individual brilliance.
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