Summary

  • England win rain-affected match by 11 runs (DLS) - report

  • Salt (46) anchors England chase after being dropped on 17

  • Curran takes hat-trick as SL dismissed for 133

  • Last four wickets fall for four runs

  • Sri Lanka earlier fall from 76-1 to 98-6

  • Rashid (3-19) and Dawson (2-31) impress

  • Match reduced to 17 overs per side

  • First of three T20s, Pallekele

Your views on England's tour of Sri Lanka

Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham

  1. Nick Compton
    Former England Test player on TNT Sports

    Eshan Malinga has been hit for four fours and was under a lot of pressure but he deceives Jos Buttler. That's a big wicket for Sri Lanka.

  2. wicket

    WICKET

    Buttler b Malinga 17 (Eng 36-1)

    Done by a slower ball!

    Jos Buttler hammers another four off Eshan Malinga but the Sri Lankan seamer outfoxes the England opener with a change of pace.

    Buttler shuffles down the pitch looking to access the off side but Malinga holds it back enough to get a bit of grip off the pitch and it clatters into the top of the stumps.

    Malinga raises an arm in celebration.

  3. Kevin Howells
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Will this be the opening pair for England in the World Cup? Duckett missing injured tonight but this pair perhaps the stronger to get things going.

  4. Eng 32-0

    Eshan Malinga, nephew of the legendary Lasith and decidedly more orthodox with his action, cannot stem the runs which are flowing for England at the moment

    Jos Buttler picks up three consecutive fours. Driving through the covers, edging behind then nonchalantly clipping off his legs through mid-wicket.

  5. Eng 20-0

    Matheesha Pathirana's parents are both classical musicians and he's a skilled pianist.

    He's certainly hitting the right notes during a waspish opening over which unsettles Jos Buttler and Phil Salt with how late they are picking up the ball from his slingy action.

  6. How's stat?!

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    That was the 10th time Phil Salt has scored 10 or more runs off the opening over of a T20I, only Paul Stirling (18 times) has done so more.

  7. Eng 18-0

    The slingy Matheesha Pathirana fizzes through an absolute beauty which beats Jos Buttler's outside edge.

    Buttler then plays all around his next ball which clips his inner thigh and races away for four leg byes.

  8. Eng 14-0

    Three boundaries followed by three dots from Maheesh Theekshana.

  9. Eng 14-0

    This going to be over before Neighbours at this stage.

    Maheesh Theekshana concedes back-to-back fours off Phil Salt.

    The England opener thrashes the Sri Lankan spinner through the covers then tucks one off his pads behind square.

  10. 6 runs

    Eng 6-0

    Maheesh Theekshana starts for Sri Lanka and is a fraction short and Phil Salt rocks on the back foot and pulls it square for six.

    Easy as you like.

  11. Sri Lanka's players have just had a group hug.

    Phil Salt and Jos Buttler are strolling out to the middle.

  12. Thanks, Mike.

    Did we all see that West Ham fan in Pallekele living his best life? I'll have whatever he is having - assuming it's legal of course.

    Sam Curran with 3-38 from three overs. Catches at mid-on, mid-off and then he rattled one into the stumps. Lovely stuff.

  13. Well then, I think England will be pretty happy with that.

    Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis put on a partnership of 52 off 27 balls to put Sri Lanka in a good position on 76-1 in the eighth over, but it all fell apart from there.

    England's spinners tore through the middle-order, taking 5-22, then a Sam Curran hat-trick and Jamie Overton's last wicket finished off the innings with Sri Lanka losing their last four wickets for four runs.

    England should expect to chase a target of 134 down - here's Timothy Abraham to see if they can do it.

  14. wicket

    WICKET

    Hasaranga b Overton 14 (SL 133 all out)

    Job done for England with four balls to spare!

    Wanindu Hasaranga heaves Jamie Overton's first ball down the ground for four, but is bowled by the next delivery going for a similar shot.

  15. How's stat?!

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    Sam Curran is the second England bowler to take a hat trick in men's T20Is following Chris Jordan's hat trick against USA in Barbados during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

  16. Kevin Howells
    BBC Test Match Special commentator

    Tougher challenges from the bat to be expected but England bowlers are enjoying their run out today.

  17. Nick Compton
    Former England Test player on TNT Sports

    What a change of fortunes for Sam Curran.

    Brilliant from him, accurate and precise.

  18. wicket

    WICKET

    Pathirana b Curran 0 (SL 129-9)

    Sam Curran has his hat-trick!

    He cleans up Matheesha Pathirana, bowling round the wicket to seal the landmark wicket.

    What a turn-around for the England seamer.

  19. wicket

    WICKET

    Theekshana c Overton b Curran 0 (SL 129-8)

    Sam Curran on a hat-trick!

    Having had a poor couple of overs early on, Curran now has a chance to take England's second hat-trick in T20 internationals.

    Maheesh Theekshana loops the ball straight to Jamie Overton at long-on.

  20. Nick Compton
    Former England Test player on TNT Sports

    We saw glimpses of Shanaka and what he can do. He wasn't able to get the leverage on that. Good bowling by Sam Curran and a good catch by Harry Brook.