England all-rounder Sam Curran made a stunning comeback in the first T20I of the three-match series against Sri Lanka at Pallekele, achieving a memorable hat-trick after a tough start. Curran’s performance in the penultimate over was key, allowing England to limit the hosts to just 133 runs in a 17-over match affected by rain.
Sam Curran’s hat-trick puts Sri Lanka in trouble
Curran’s day began poorly as he was hit for 20 runs in a single over and gave away 35 runs in his first two overs. Sri Lanka’s batters looked strong during the Powerplay, scoring 76 runs in just seven overs and hinting at a daunting total despite the match being shortened.
However, the left-arm all-rounder showed his skill and composure at a crucial moment. In the penultimate over, Curran changed the game by taking three wickets in a row, turning the tide in England’s favor.
His hat-trick, which saw him dismiss Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, and Matheesha Pathirana with consecutive deliveries, not only eliminated Sri Lanka’s finishing options but also stopped any late surge that could have taken them beyond England’s reach.
By the end of his spell, Curran had impressive figures of 3 for 38, a strong recovery from his earlier overs. This hat-trick made him the second England bowler ever to achieve this in men’s T20 Internationals.
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