England rode on Sam Curran’s stunning hat-trick and a calm chase under DLS to beat Sri Lanka in the first T20I at Pallekele and go 1–0 up in the series.
Sri Lanka looked set early after racing to 76 for 1 in the powerplay, with their batters taking on the new ball. The momentum did not last long, as England’s spinners and cutters slowed the game sharply.
The collapse came fast. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 133 in just 16.2 overs, losing nine wickets for 57 runs after that strong start. The middle order failed to adjust once the pitch began to grip.
Sam Curran turned the match on its head in the 16th over. He removed Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana off successive balls to claim a hat-trick. Curran became only the second Englishman to take a hat-trick.
Adil Rashid was tight and clever through his spell, finishing with 3 for 19. Liam Dawson and Jamie Overton supported him well with two wickets each. Jofra Archer returned to international cricket but went wicketless on his comeback.
Rain reduced England’s chase to 17 overs, adding another twist to the night. England started steadily, knowing the DLS target was always within reach if wickets were managed well.
Phil Salt anchored the innings with a composed 46 off 35 balls, picking gaps rather than forcing shots. Tom Banton added pace to the chase with a brisk 29 off just 15 balls.
There was a brief wobble when Eshan Malinga struck back. He dismissed Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell using slower balls after being hit for boundaries, giving Sri Lanka a late sniff.
Rain returned again with England on 125 for 4 after 15 overs. At that stage, England were 11 runs ahead of the DLS par score, sealing the win and the early series lead.
The match, played under stop-start conditions at Pallekele, summed up England’s control. Sri Lanka’s bright opening was undone by smart bowling and calm decision-making in pressure moments.