Curran hat-trick caps England win in rain-shortened series opener
Salt, Banton, spinners star in 11-run DLS victory in first T20I at Pallekele
30/01Result
1st T20I (N), England tour of Sri Lanka at Kandy, Jan 30 2026
-
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
133 (16.2/17 ov) -
![England]( "England")
125/4 (15 ov, target 115)
Player of the Match
30/01Result
1st T20I (N), England tour of Sri Lanka at Kandy, Jan 30 2026
-
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
133 (16.2/17 ov) -
![England]( "England")
125/4 (15 ov, target 115)
Player of the Match
Match Centre
Statistics
Best performances - Batsmen
PD Salt
46(35) 3x4 - 2x6
Control %75%
- Productive Shot
- flick
- 13 runs
- 1x4 - 0x6
BKG Mendis
37(20) 4x4 - 2x6
Control %80%
- Productive Shot
- sweep shot
- 10 runs
- 2x4 - 0x6
Best performances - Bowlers
AU Rashid
- O4
- M0
- R19
- W3
- Eco4.75
| 1W | 2W | |||
- FTFULL TOSS
- YYORKER
- FFULL LENGTH
- GGOOD LENGTH
- SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
- SSHORT LENGTH
SM Curran
- O3
- M0
- R38
- W3
- Eco12.66
| 2W | ||||
| 1W | ||||
- FTFULL TOSS
- YYORKER
- FFULL LENGTH
- GGOOD LENGTH
- SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
- SSHORT LENGTH
Match Details
Toss
England , elected to field first
Player Of The Match
Series result
England led the 3-match series 1-0
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
19.00 start, First Session 19.00-20.30, Interval 20.30-20.50, Second Session 20.50-22.20
Match days
30 January 2026 - night match (20-over match)
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Scorecard Summary
SRI LANKA 133 (16.2 OVERS)
- Kusal Mendis37 (20)
- Pathum Nissanka23 (20)
- Adil Rashid3/19 (4)
- Sam Curran3/38 (3)
Scorer: Sudeep Poojar | Commentator: Alan Gardner
END OF OVER:15 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 125/4 (10 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.33, RRR: 5.00)
- Harry Brook16 (18b)
- Sam Curran1 (1b)
- Dasun Shanaka2-0-12-1
- Matheesha Pathirana4-0-18-1
11.45pm: Okay, doesn't look like we're getting the presentations, so that's a wrap here. Thanks for keeping us company, from myself, Matt and Sudeep. There'll be more to come from Madushka on the ground, and then it's back to the Pallekele International Stadium for game two on Sunday. G'night!
11.33pm: All over, England win by 11 runs on DLS method. Handshakes among the players by the dressing rooms. It's been a soggy night in Pallekele, but we did at least get some cricket in. Apart from a brief surge at the top of the SL innings, England were always on top and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series
Ach, the rain has returned, and the players are going off. England, by the way, are two 11 runs ahead of the DLS par score off 114. Looks to be pretty heavy, actually. I think that may be that for this one
14.6
1
Shanaka to Brook, 1 run, cutter worked into the leg side
14.5
1
Shanaka to Curran, 1 run, fullish from over the wicket, played with a dead straight bat back past the stumps at the other end
Sam Curran the new man
14.4
W
Shanaka to Salt, OUT, Salt departs, slogged to long-on! Another slower ball and he can't get the power required. This one is safely held by the substitute, Wellalage, coming in off the rope
PD Salt c sub (DN Wellalage) b Shanaka 46 (71m 35b 3x4 2x6) SR: 131.42
14.3
1
Shanaka to Brook, 1 run, length ball on off, 105kph/65mph, punched out to the cover sweeper
14.2
2
Shanaka to Brook, 2 runs, pace off into the pitch, Brook nudges into the gap at midwicket for a brace
14.1
0
Shanaka to Brook, no run, slower ball, squirted to short third
Three overs to come, 14 needed by England. Shanaka brings himself back on
Match Coverage
All Match News'It was a challenging period' - Pathirana is back and making an impact
His release point is still not where it used to be, but Matheesha Pathirana showed off his entire repertoire and newfound control in the first T20I against England
Curran hat-trick caps England win in rain-shortened series opener
Salt, Banton, spinners star in 11-run DLS victory in first T20I at Pallekele
Why this T20 World Cup means more for Phil Salt
After playing a bit-part role in England's 2022 title, opener is ready to put his stamp on this edition
Jofra Archer back as England and Sri Lanka begin World Cup countdown
Three-match series comes as perfect prep for upcoming tournament in India and Sri Lanka
