- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR7.1 Rashid strikes! Slow, loopy legbreak, tossed up above the eyeline at just 43mph/70kph. Nissanka looks to slog-sweep him over midwicket but is through the shot early, and his steepling top edge lobs up into Buttler's gloves for a straightforward catch 76/22.3 Dawson makes amends! Overton strikes back. Hard length, into the surface, and rushes Mishara as he looks to swing cross-batted over the leg side. One hand came off the bat as the ball skewed up high into the night sky, and Dawson settled under it at short midwicket to take a steepler 24/19.4 spooned down the ground, taken! Rashid, England's trump card, strikes again. Loopy and gripping just enough as Mendis came down, the turn meant his heave across the line went straighter than intended, and it's a simple catch for Overton tracking in from long-on 89/48.1 picks out deep midwicket! Good diving catch by Bethell, running around to his left. Dawson angled this across the left-hander from around the wicket, going wide outside his off stump. Asalanka looked to drag him over the leg side, down on one knee, and nearly hit the gap between midwicket and long-on. But Bethell made good ground, and took this diving catch a good 10 yards off the rope 79/311.4 slog-sweep, top-edged... taken! Dhananjaya was thoroughly trussed up over the course of those four balls, before finally being put out of his misery. Tried to hit his way out of trouble, ends up giving his wicket away as deep square leg comes in for a simple catch 98/610.4 pinned by the quicker one! Not given but England will review, I think. Yes, after some discussion, it goes upstairs. Looked plumber than a moustachioed Italian on first glance. Scuttles on low to hit him on the shin in front of middle - and smashing halfway up, according to ball-tracking! Ravi Wimalasiri has to reverse his decision, pronto 98/515.4 slapped to mid-off! Curran gets an important wicket to make up for some of the tap he has taken. Not sure it was a cutter, actually. But Shanaka's attempt to thump down the ground didn't have the elevation and it's a simple take on the edge of the circle 129/716.2 leg stump plucked out of the ground! Overton goes full and straight and puts an end to the Sri Lanka innings, Hasaranga backing away and missing a wild swipe to be bowled 133/1015.5 hoicked to long-on! Theekshana goes first ball. Pitched up and he swings enthusiastically but without any timing, picking out the towering figure of Overton some way in off the rope. Two in two, Curran on a hat-trick 129/815.6 bowled 'im, HAT-TRICK! Curran's arms are spread wide. Only the second T20I hat-trick for England. Fired full and middle and off from round the wicket and Pathirana is bowled neck and crop. Curran started the over with 0 for 35, ends it with 3 for 38 129/9Extras9 (b 4, lb 2, w 3)TOTAL133 all out (16.2 Overs, RR: 8.14)Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Kamil Mishara, 2.3 ov), 2-76 (Pathum Nissanka, 7.1 ov), 3-79 (Charith Asalanka, 8.1 ov), 4-89 (Kusal Mendis, 9.4 ov), 5-98 (Janith Liyanage, 10.4 ov), 6-98 (Dhananjaya de Silva, 11.4 ov), 7-129 (Dasun Shanaka, 15.4 ov), 8-129 (Maheesh Theekshana, 15.5 ov), 9-129 (Matheesha Pathirana, 15.6 ov), 10-133 (Wanindu Hasaranga, 16.2 ov)
Player of the Match
Player of the Match
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR14.4 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 123/42.5 cleans him up with the dipping slowie! 69mph/111kph, Buttler gives himself room and looks to five in a row but is done in the flight by a loopy offcutter, which grips and turns to hit the top of leg stump. Sri Lanka have a breakthrough 36/14.6 lobbed to Shanaka at extra cover! Yet another Malinga offcutter, which sticks in the pitch and loops up to the edge of the ring as Bethell is through the drive early 48/29.2 snapped up brilliantly at cover! Banton hits this clean as a whistle, but Asalanka is ready for it, stays low and dives to his right to swallow the ball with two hands! Pathirana breaks the stand just as they were threatening to finish things in hurry 87/3Extras7 (lb 4, w 3)TOTAL125/4 (15 Overs, RR: 8.33)Fall of wickets: 1-36 (Jos Buttler, 2.5 ov), 2-48 (Jacob Bethell, 4.6 ov), 3-87 (Tom Banton, 9.2 ov), 4-123 (Phil Salt, 14.4 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ 0s 4s 6s WD NB M Theekshana 3 0 31 0 10.33 6 3 2 0 0 M Pathirana 4 0 18 1 4.5 16 2 0 3 0 E Malinga 2 0 24 2 12 4 5 0 0 0 PW Hasaranga 4 0 36 0 9 6 2 2 0 0 MD Shanaka 2 0 12 1 6 4 1 0 0 0
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
Match Notes
- Rain: Sri Lanka - 0/0
- Bad Weather: Sri Lanka - 0/0
- Wet Ground: Sri Lanka - 0/0
- Wet Ground: Sri Lanka - 0/0
- Powerplay: Overs 0.1 - 5.1 (Mandatory - 51 runs, 1 wicket)
- Match reduced 17 overs per side
- Sri Lanka: 50 runs in 4.5 overs (29 balls), Extras 7
- 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 27 balls (P Nissanka 17, BKG Mendis 29, Ex 5)
- Over 10.4: Review by England (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - RR Wimalasiri, Batter - J Liyanage (Upheld)
- Sri Lanka: 100 runs in 11.6 overs (72 balls), Extras 8
- Sam Curran took a hat-trick with the wickets of 7-129 (Dasun Shanaka, 15.4 ov), 8-129 (Maheesh Theekshana, 15.5 ov), 9-129 (Matheesha Pathirana, 15.6 ov)
- Innings Break: Sri Lanka - 133/10 in 16.2 overs (E Malinga 0)
- Powerplay: Overs 0.1 - 5.1 (Mandatory - 49 runs, 2 wickets)
- Over 3.2: Review by Sri Lanka (Bowling), Decision Challenged - Wicket, Umpire - RA Kottahachchi, Batter - JG Bethell (Struck down)
- England: 50 runs in 5.2 overs (32 balls), Extras 5
- Drinks: England - 86/2 in 9.0 overs (PD Salt 26, T Banton 29)
- England: 100 runs in 11.4 overs (70 balls), Extras 7
- Rain: England - 125/4 in 15.0 overs (HC Brook 16, SM Curran 1)
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



