01/30/26 01:10:00
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01/30 13:08 CST Curran takes hat trick in England's rain-hit T20 win against
Sri Lanka
Curran takes hat trick in England's rain-hit T20 win against Sri Lanka
PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) --- Fast bowler Sam Curran became the second
Englishman to achieve a Twenty20 hat trick as Sri Lanka was beaten by 11 runs
in a rain-affected series opener on Friday.
Rain allowed only 17 overs to Sri Lanka, which was all out for 133 with four
balls unused. England was cruising to victory when rain ended its innings after
15 overs. But at 125-4 England won by the DLS method.
Curran was smashed for 35 runs in his first two overs but made a stunning
comeback by taking three wickets in three balls in his last over to finish with
3-38. Sri Lanka was dismissed two balls later. The only other England men's T20
hat trick was by Chris Jordan against the United States at the 2024 T20 World
Cup.
The three-match series is a final tune-up before next week's T20 World Cup in
India and Sri Lanka.
Curran's expensive first two overs helped Sri Lanka surge to 76-1 after seven
overs thanks to Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka.
But spinners Adil Rashid (3-19) and Liam Dawson (2-31) ripped out the middle
order. Curran added his hat trick and Jamie Overton took the last wicket.
England made a blazing start to the chase when Phil Salt smashed Maheesh
Theekshana for 6-4-4 off the first three balls. Jos Buttler welcomed fast
bowler Eshan Malinga with four straight boundaries.
The Sri Lanka fielders were sloppy. Salt top-scored with 46 runs off 35 balls
but was dropped on 17 off the bowling of Wanindu Hasaranga and on 41 off
Matheesha Pathirana by Nissanka. Another Nissanka drop also cost Pathirana
taking Harry Brook's wicket on 11.
Tom Banton smashed 29 off 15 balls with some attractive reverse-swept
boundaries and Brook was a casual 16 not out.
The second match is on Sunday and the final game on Tuesday.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
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