Sri Lanka: 133 all out in 16.2 overs( Kusal Mendis 37 (20), Pathum Nissanka 23 (20), Dasun Shanaka 20 (16); Adil Rashid 4-0-19-3, Sam Curran 3-0-38-3, Jamie Overton 2.2-0-17-2)
England: 125/4 in 15 overs (Phil Salt 46 (35), Tom Banton 29 (15), Harry Brook 16* (18); Matheesha Pathirana 4-0-18-1, Eshan Malinga 2-0-24-2)
England drew first blood in the three-match T20I series with an 11-run victory via the Duckworth/Lewis method in a rain-affected opener at Pallekele, a match defined by Sri Lanka’s dramatic middle-order collapse and a sensational Sam Curran hat-trick, only the second by an England bowler in T20 internationals.
Put in to bat in a game reduced to a maximum of 17 overs per side, Sri Lanka began with intent. Kusal Mendis was at his belligerent best, racing to 37 off just 20 balls, while Pathum Nissanka provided early stability. At 76 for 1 in the eighth over, the hosts appeared well placed for a total that would test England under lights.
What followed, however, was a familiar and damaging unraveling.
England’s spinners seized control with ruthless efficiency. Adil Rashid, bowling with his trademark guile on a surface that offered little obvious assistance, turned the innings on its head. His dismissal of Nissanka began the slide, and he soon accounted for Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva to finish with an outstanding 3 for 19. Liam Dawson chipped in with two wickets as Sri Lanka lost five wickets for 22 runs, the middle order folding under sustained pressure and poor shot selection.
Captain Dasun Shanaka briefly threatened to haul Sri Lanka back into contention with two clean sixes in a brisk 20 off 16 balls, but any hopes of a late surge were extinguished in dramatic fashion by Sam Curran.
In the space of three deliveries in the 16th over, Curran ripped the heart out of Sri Lanka’s innings. Shanaka miscued to mid-off, Maheesh Theekshana holed out first ball, and Matheesha Pathirana was bowled to complete a stunning hat-trick. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 133 in 16.2 overs, a total that felt well short given their start.
Chasing the target, England were positive from the outset. Phil Salt set the tone with a fluent 46 off 35 balls, while Jos Buttler’s early boundaries kept the visitors ahead of the DLS par score. Sri Lanka fought back through Matheesha Pathirana, who bowled with pace and precision to return 1 for 18, and Eshan Malinga, who removed both Buttler and Jacob Bethell.
At 87 for 3, there was a brief window of opportunity for the hosts, but Tom Banton’s explosive 29 off 15 balls swung momentum firmly back England’s way. Rain returned with England on 125 for 4, comfortably ahead of the required rate, sealing the result.
For Sri Lanka, the defeat will sting not because of the weather interruption but because of a batting collapse that once again undermined a promising position. England, meanwhile, will take confidence from their composure under pressure, their dominance through spin, and a decisive burst from Sam Curran that proved the difference in Pallekele.
