Curran hat-trick stifles Sri Lanka in strong T20WC audition
Sam Curran was thrilled to claim a rare hat-trick as England registered a win over Sri Lanka just days out from the start of the T20 World Cup.
Sam Curran became just the second male player from England to claim a T20I hat-trick as the European side displayed some good signs ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup with an impressive victory over Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Friday.
Curran swept through Sri Lanka's lower-order to dismiss Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana with consecutive deliveries, joining Chris Jordan as the only man from England to have collected a T20I hat-trick.
Jordan claimed his during the last edition of the T20 World Cup in 2024 and Curran achieved the feat just one week out from the upcoming tournament that commences on February 7 as England fine tuned their preparations with an 11-run victory (DLS method) over Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Chris Jordan takes sensational hat-trick | USA v ENG | T20WC 2024
Chris Jordan took four wickets in an over, including a hat-trick, to help England bowl USA out for 115.
Curran's spell ensured Sri Lanka could only muster 133 with the bat, before opener Phil Salt (46) and No.4 Tom Banton (29) ensured England claimed the honours in the opening match of the three-game series.
But the day belonged to Curran, with the all-rounder displaying some of the form that saw him named Player of the Tournament during England's title-winning run at the 2022 T20 World Cup just days out from the upcoming showcase event.
“Pretty cool to say I’ve got a hat-trick but a weird night personally after getting a bit of tap in the first couple of overs!” Curran told England Cricket after the match.
“T20 is such an up and down thing. A fantastic win, we take a lot of confidence from our first T20 win.
“Really special, at the top of my mark Jos (England opener Jos Buttler) told me to come round the wicket. One of those where you aim for the stumps and hope he missed and thankfully he did.
“The way the night started I would have taken any wicket or dot ball! Loads of excitement as you let go and see the stumps light up and it makes the night that bit sweeter.”
Sam Curran ecstatic after match-winning spell | ICC Men's T20 WC 2022
Sam Curran ecstatic after match-winning spell | ICC Men's T20 WC 2022
Pallekele will host the remaining two matches of England's series against Sri Lanka and Curran wants his side to continue their winning form ahead of the T20 World Cup.
“Winning is a confidence boost and a habit and I guess we are hoping to keep doing that leading into the World Cup,” Curran added.
“It’s a really important series for us playing in similar conditions to the World Cup.
“We know how exciting the next few weeks are, we want to do the country proud. Hopefully we will be as ready as we can.”