COLOMBO: Sam Curran claimed a hat-trick as England beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-marred opening Twenty20 International in Pallekele on Friday.
The left-arm seamer became only the second Englishman after Chris Jordan to take a hat-trick in T20 Internationals, helping England bowl Sri Lanka out for 133 with four balls to spare in an innings reduced to 17 overs.
Phil Salt anchored England’s chase with 46 off 35 balls as the tourists stayed ahead of the revised target in a low-scoring contest interrupted by rain.
Earlier, Sri Lanka looked in control after being put in to bat, racing to 76-1 in seven overs with Kusal Mendis making 37 and Pathum Nissanka 23. Spinner Adil Rashid turned the game, finishing with 3-19 as he dismissed both set batters and Dhananjaya de Silva to spark a collapse.
Curran then ripped through the tail in a dramatic 16th over, removing Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana in succession as Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets for four runs.
Jofra Archer, returning from a side strain, bowled tidily and conceded 22 runs from three overs without a wicket.
