Sam Curran Makes History with Rare T20I Hat-Trick for England
In a remarkable turnaround, England all-rounder Sam Curran etched his name into the record books by becoming just the second English bowler to claim a hat-trick in men's T20 International cricket. This historic feat powered England to an 11-run victory over Sri Lanka via the DLS method in the first T20I held in Pallekele.
A Comeback Story with a Dramatic Twist
Curran's performance was a tale of resilience, bouncing back emphatically after a challenging start. In his initial spell, he conceded a hefty 36 runs across his first two overs, including 16 in the opening over and 20 in the seventh, where he was particularly targeted by Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis. However, the match, which was delayed and reduced to 17 overs per side, saw a dramatic shift when Curran returned to bowl the 16th over.
By that stage, Sri Lanka's innings was in disarray at 125/6, largely due to the spin duo of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. With the hosts relying on set batsmen Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga to post a competitive total, Curran seized the moment. He dismissed Shanaka caught at mid-off with the fourth ball of the over, followed by Maheesh Theekshana caught at long on the very next delivery. Completing the hat-trick, he clean bowled Matheesha Pathirana to wrap up the over in spectacular fashion.
Joining an Exclusive Club
This achievement places Curran in an elite group, with Chris Jordan being the only other England bowler to have taken a T20I hat-trick, which he accomplished during the 2024 T20 World Cup against the USA. Curran's comeback is especially notable as he recently returned to international cricket and was confirmed as part of England's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, highlighting his growing importance to the team.
Match Outcome and Key Contributions
Following Curran's heroics, Sri Lanka's innings collapsed further, with Hasaranga falling to Jamie Overton early in the next over, leading to their dismissal for 133 runs in 16.2 overs. In response, England's openers Phil Salt and Jos Buttler launched a blistering start, putting on 36 runs in just 17 balls. Salt remained aggressive, scoring 46 off 35 balls before falling in what turned out to be the final over. Rain interrupted play at that point, with England ahead by 11 runs on the DLS par score, securing the win without further action.
Curran finished with figures of 3/38, a testament to his ability to recover and deliver under pressure. This match not only showcased his skill but also underscored the rarity of such hat-tricks in T20I cricket for England, making it a memorable moment in the sport's history.
