Sri Lanka v England: Sam Curran takes hat-trick in first men’s T20 international – as it happened
Ah, I was hanging on for the post match presentations but it seems they have been pulled.Time for me to skedaddle then, thanks for your company.Taha’s match report will be along very soon and do join us on Sunday for match number two.The weekend has landed.Goodbye!Handshakes all round, a strange and drawn out match comes to a close.
England take a 1-0 lead in the series.Adil Rashid starred with the ball, taking 3-19 before Sam Curran popped up to take a hat-trick at the end of Sri Lanka’s innings.A total of 133 was never going to be enough for the home side and so it proved.We’ll have some reaction from the ground very soon.Oh, the rain has returned and seemingly caught everyone out.
The players are going off with England eleven runs ahead on DLS,That could well be it for the action today,Salt holes out to long on before he can chalk up what would have been a very strange half century,14th over: England 120-3 (Salt 46, Brook 12) Brook is dropped by Nissanka at deep cover! A dolly Miss Molly,Salt then throws himself into the wound with a clobbered off side four off the next ball.
England need 14 more from 18 balls to go 1-0 up in the three match series.13th over: England 115-3 (Salt 42, Brook 11) Brooky cloths a reverse off Hasaranga but somehow manages to get it to trickle away for four runs.Twenty needed for England, eyes down for a red inker.Not.12th over: England 105-3 (Salt 38, Brook 5) Phil Salt’s ten over boundary drought is lifted with a step across his stumps and a flick over the ropes off Theekshana.
11th over: England 97-3 (Salt 31, Brook 4) Hasaranga whips through a cheap and quick over,Just four runs off it, its all about wickets from here, namely can Sri Lanka take seven of ‘em,10th over: England 93-3 (Salt 28, Brook 3) Brook is off the mark with a scampered two past point,A top edge ploops over third for a single,England need a run a ball – 42 off 42.
The home side needed that.Banton is caught at cover by Asalanka, a fine grab with two hands as the ball was middle sweetly.Harry Brook arrives in the middle.9th over: England 86-2 (Salt 26, Banton 29) Banton is doing his World Cup chances no harm at all with this sprightly cameo, he trots down and lofts Theekshana for four.England take nine off the over, Sri Lanka need wickets pronto.
8th over: England 77-2 (Salt 23, Banton 23) Salt clips a single, he’s slowed right down since that rapid start, just nine off the next 13 deliveries.Banton gets on with it instead – the Somerset man reverses Hasaranga for four and then does the same for a SIX! The bowler tries a googly but Banton reads it and slaps it over midwicket for SIX more! 17 runs off the over, England need just 58 more.7th over: England 60-2 (Salt 22, Banton 7) Banton gets a meaty outside edge off Shanaka and it runs away for four through the vacant deep third.Sri Lanka are coming back into the contest though with some tighter bowling, pace off and stump to stump.Add a couple of wickets to the score…6th over: England 53-2 (Salt 20, Banton 2) Drop! Big Drop! Phil Salt picks out Mishara on the square leg boundary but the catch plops in and straight back out again.
That’s a huge miss.Five off the over but Hasaranga is spewing about the catch still at the end of the over, as well he might.Bethell flatters to deceive in his short innings, nonchalantly flicking Malinga over midwicket for four but perishing meekly off the final ball with a plink to short cover.Tom Banton is the new man, a decent innings here will keep his name in the hunt for selection for the World Cup, Ben Duckett is resting in this series after a torrid Ashes but his name is thought to be the one inked in the XI.5th over: England 48-2 (Salt 14, Banton 0)4th over: England 41-1 (Salt 14, Bethell 5) Bethell glides a four through point with oodles of time off Pathirana.
The bowler responds with a searing 90mph yorker that Bethell does well to dig out.Sri Lanka seem convinced that it was pad first and send it upstairs… nope – he more or less middled it.A decent over though, just the one four off it as Bethell can’t beat the infield.3rd over: England 37-1 (Salt 14, Bethell 1) Jacob Bethell is the new batter, be still my beating heart.He clips a single off the last ball of the over to keep the strike.
This could be fun,Buttler hits four fours in a row off Eshan Malinga but is then completely foxed by a slower ball, stumps knocked back and he has to go after looking a million dollars,2nd over: England 20-0 (Salt 14, Buttler 1) Matheesha Pathirana shares the new ball, he beats Buttler first up with his zippy medium pace,A full toss goes unpunished as Buttler looks to the square leg umpire and implores for a no ball to be called,It isn’t but England get four leg byes off the next to keep them ticking.
1st over: England 14-0 (Salt 14, Buttler 0) Theekshana drops short with his first ball and is flat batted for SIX by Salt,Bosh,Salt crashes a full ball through the covers for four and then follows up with a clip off his pads for another,Three boundaries in a row to start the chase for England,Three dots follow but England are in a hurry.
Righto, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler are out in the middle.Maheesh Theekshana will start with the ball for Sri Lanka, play!Overton rips out Hasaranga’s middle dolly and that is categorcially that.The home side bundled out inside their 17 overs after a really strong start.England’s spinners did the damage in the middle overs and then Sam Carran popped up to take a hat-trick (after taking some tap).England will need about 8 runs an over, I dare say they will try and get it quicker than that.
Back soon for the chase!16th over: Sri Lanka 129-9 (Hasaranga 10) Just the four runs and THREE WICKETS in the over.One more to go, in more ways than one…Matheesha Pathirana is bowled neck and crop and Curran wheels away with arms outstretched! A HAT-TRICK! After being flogged around the park in his first couple of overs.Cricket! Bloody ‘ell!Two in two for Curran, he’s on a hat-trick!Sam Curran has had a bad day but turns his fortunes around in his third over…15th over: Sri Lanka 125-6 (Shanaka 18, Hasaranga 9) Archer back into the attack and his first ball is too straight, too full and clipped away for a SIX by Shanaka! Archer winces but comes back strong, just three singles follow in the over.Two overs to go, what can Sri Lanka muster?14th over: Sri Lanka 116-6 (Shanaka 10, Hasaranga 8) Overton returns, drops short and is flogged away by Hasaranga.13th over: Sri Lanka 110-6 (Shanaka 9, Hasaranga 3) Shot! A a much needed swipe for SIX by Shanaka.
Dawson closes out with 2-31 from his four,England’s spinners have done the damage in Kandy,12th over: Sri Lanka 100-6 (Shanaka 1, Hasaranga 1) The hundred comes up for Sri Lanka but at 76-2 they were flying only to fall in a heap,Adil Rashid finishes with 3-19 from his four overs,Masterful.
Another one gone! Five wickets in five consecutive overs for England.Rashid bamboozled Dhananjaya with a couple of googlies and the shot to break the shackles is pouched by Curran in the deep.Implosion!11th over: Sri Lanka 98-5 (de Silva 11, Shanaka 0) Dawson has 2-31 from his three overs, superb spin bowling.England get one overturned on review.Dawson and Buttler were confident that Liyanage was pinned in front and no bat was involved, the replays confirm it and the batter is on his way.
Sri Lanka capitulating a little in Kandy,10th over: Sri Lanka 91-4 (de Silva 2, Liyanage 1) Ten overs done and England have pegged the home side back after that rapid start,Rashid gets the key wicket of Kusal Mendis! A flighted leggie grips the surface and Mendis gets a big leading edge down to long on where Overton takes it in his sizeable yeoman hands,9th over: Sri Lanka 83-3 (Mendis 30, de Silva 2) Dawson fires it in full and gets out of the over cheaply, just four runs and the wicket off it,Asalanka tries the big slog sweep but doesn’t get enough of it, Jacob Bethell scampers round the boundary edge and takes a fine catch on the dive.
England chipping their way back into the contest.8th over: Sri Lanka 79-2 (Mendis 30, Asalanka 2) Charith Asalanka is the new batter.Mishara is still out there and looking dangerous.Rashid gets out of his over for the cost of just four runs and he pocketed the all important wicket too.England needed a wicket and their main man delivers.
Rashid tosses one above the eyes and Nissanka goes for a big moose across the line, he miscues and Buttler does the rest.England gather in the middle and take a few deep breaths, they were on the ropes there.7th over: Sri Lanka 75-1 (Nissanka 23, Mendis 29) Sam Curran returns and starts with some dross first up, slinging a full ball onto the pads with fine leg up in the circle, easy pickings for Kusal Mendis.Mendis then clears the front leg and swipes Curran away through midwicket for four more.SIX! Curran goes to a short ball but Mendis is onto it like a seagull on a saveloy – smashing it away over the leg side and into the crowd.
Trying times for Curran… SIX MORE! Curran tries a slower ball but Mendis is ready and waiting, depositing down the ground for another big one.Twenty runs off the over – Sam Curran has 0-35 from his two.Have a breather, son.6th over: Sri Lanka 55-1 (Nissanka 23, Mendis 9) Adil Rashid introduced with Harry Brook needing his main man to take some wickets and stem the flow.After one ball from Rashid the truncated PowerPlay is complete.
Nissanka and Mendis can only deal in singles, five off the over.5th over: Sri Lanka 50-1 (Nissanka 21, Mendis 6) Dawson into the attack, there’s plenty of head scratching out in the middle as the ball appears to clip the stumps when Nissanka misses a sweep shot but the bails stay on and the ball dribbles away for four byes! Someone’s UHU’d the bails Guv! Nissanka is looking imperious, he makes room to cut Dawson for four and then ends the over with wonderful lofted SIX over mid-off.Ffity up for Sri Lanka – they are going at ten an over.Even I can do that maths.4th over: Sri Lanka 36-1 (Nissanka 11, Mendis 6) Nissanka attempts a paddle sweet to Archer which I’m not sure is the wisest move.
He misses the ball and is smashed on the pad, Archer pleads with the umpire who says not out and Harry Brook decides against sending it upstairs, wisely as it hit Nissanka outside the line,Nissanka is a joy to watch though, he trots down and lofts Archer over cover for four,A single brings Mendis on strike, he rocks back and unleashes a cut past backward point for four more,Decent start from the home side,3rd over: Sri Lanka 25-1 ( Mishara 10, Nissanka 6) Kusal Mendis is the new batter, Overton keeps him honest with four dots.
Seven runs and the wicket off the over,Jamie Overton replaces Curran and is immediately mullered into the stands over long-on by Mishara,That was some strike,Gone! Mishar tries to repeat the stroke but hits it straight up up and up,Liam Dawson takes a simple catch… did I mention how safe his hands were? England get their first.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 18-0 ( Mishara 10, Nissanka 6) Jofra Archer starts from t’other end.He skims one past the outside edge of Mishara’s bat and looks in fine fettle in his first few balls.DROP! Archer shows his frustration as Liam Dawson shells a chance at midwicket, Mishara given a life.Dawson was almost at full stretch but got there with his left hand and perhaps could have taken it he’d gone with both.Just two off the over but a missed opportunity for England.
I don’t want to do Dawson down, but I recall seeing him drop quite a few catches in an England shirt now? Harsh but fair?1st over: Sri Lanka 16-0 ( Mishara 9, Nissanka 5) The sky is bruised and so are Sam Curran’s figures after just one over, the wee man is flogged for 16 runs off his first including three fours from over pitched deliveries that are given the treatment.Nissanka plays the pick of them with a languid cover drive that threads the field but Mishara didn’t miss out either, picking off two boundaries through the off side with sweet timing.Sam Curran is going to start with the new ball for England.Let’s play!Here are the teams:Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kamil Mishara, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dasun Shanaka (c), 7 Janith Liyanage, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Matheesha Pathirana, 11 Eshan MalingaEngland: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Tom Banton, 5 Harry Brook (c), 6 Sam Curran, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Liam Dawson, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Adil RashidTaha chirps up from the ground and says he doesn’t think there will be any more rain.Wahey
Greens select former mayoral candidate to run in Gorton and Denton byelection
The Green party has selected the former mayoral candidate Hannah Spencer to run in the Gorton and Denton byelection.Spencer, a Trafford councillor and plumber by trade, used to live in the constituency and was the Green candidate for mayor of Manchester in the 2024 election, where she finished fifth behind Labour’s Andy Burnham, who retained the post, and Conservative, independent and Reform candidates.Her nomination was officially announced on Friday in Longsight. The decision had been made democratically by local party members in online hustings the night before. Spencer is understood to have gained a large majority of the vote, beating competition that included Fesl Reza-Khan, who previously stood for the Oldham East and Saddleworth seat in the 2024 general election, finishing sixth, and Sarah Wakefield, a local campaigner and the former general secretary to the Manchester University student union
Starmer signals support for Trump’s aggressive approach towards Iran
Keir Starmer has signalled support for Donald Trump’s aggressive approach towards Iran, saying it is vital the Iranian leadership is not able to develop nuclear weapons.While the prime minister did not comment directly on the possibility of US military strikes on Iran, he said allies needed to face up to the nuclear issue and “deal with” the deadly repression of anti-government protests.The US president has warned Iran it must end its nuclear programme and stop killing protesters if a large US armada of warships deployed in the Middle East is not to be used against them.Starmer’s words during a visit to China on Friday were deliberately guarded, and No 10 officials said he would not comment on hypothetical future US strikes, but they are likely to be seen by some as a tacit endorsement of Trump’s bellicose attitude to Tehran.“The goal or the aim here is that Iran shouldn’t be able to develop nuclear weapons and that is hugely important and, of course, we need to deal with the fact they are repressing protesters, killing protesters,” Starmer told the BBC during a series of broadcast interviews in Shanghai
‘It’s about ego’: Matt Goodwin’s journey from far-right expert to firebrand Reform candidate
It was the autumn of 2011 and Dr Matt Goodwin was documenting the potential reach of the racist far-right in Tameside, a borough in east Manchester that is part of the parliamentary constituency of Gorton and Denton.The borough council had spotted the work the young academic had been doing on the rise of the British National party – the subject of his pioneering PhD – and asked him to dig deeper into the local dangers of what Goodwin was describing as a “new British fascism” emerging in disaffected parts of northern England.Regarded by colleagues as ambitious to a fault, he was not one to turn down such interesting work. Having built strong contacts within the Conservative party, he had already been assisting the hereditary peer James Bethell, and Tim Montgomerie, previously chief of staff to Iain Duncan Smith as Tory leader and the founder of the influential ConservativeHome website, on a campaign with the strapline “there is nothing British about the BNP”.Goodwin’s co-authored report to Tameside council identified the areas “most ‘at risk’ of far-right extremism and the factors that have driven this support”
Who are the UK MPs and peers who had sanctions imposed on them by China?
China has lifted sanctions imposed on six serving British MPs and peers after Keir Starmer’s trip to Beijing.Nine UK citizens were banned from China in 2021, including five Conservative MPs and two members of the House of Lords.MP for Tonbridge; former security ministerTugendhat was first elected in 2015. The son of a high court judge, Tugendhat served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and later became a military assistant to the chief of the defence staff.He chaired the foreign affairs select committee between 2017 and 2022
Reform UK enlists Boris Johnson ally to write party nature policies
Ben Goldsmith, the veteran Conservative environmentalist and ally of Boris Johnson, has been approached to write Reform UK’s policies on nature, as Nigel Farage’s party attempts to make inroads with voters put off by his stance on the climate crisis.Goldsmith will work with the Reform leader and his policy adviser James Orr on policies such as fishing and preservation of the green belt, as party figures admit they are struggling to win over Conservative voters who care about the environment.It is understood the financier and wildlife campaigner will not be joining the party, but is happy to advise them on nature policy. Goldsmith has been a leading figure in the rewilding movement, has supported efforts to return animals including the beaver to the UK, and has worked to preserve rare wildlife around the world.Reform has made huge inroads among Tory voters in the past 18 months, propelling the party to the top of the polls and on course for a majority at the next election
Keir Starmer opens door to UK visit by Xi Jinping after bilateral talks
Keir Starmer has taken a big step towards rapprochement with China, opening the door to a UK visit from Xi Jinping in a move that drew immediate anger from British critics of Beijing.During the first visit by a UK prime minister to China in eight years – a period which Starmer has described as an “ice age” – he said talks with the Chinese president had left the bilateral relationship in a stronger position.While Starmer and his team were flaunting the results of the trip – including a visa waiver, a cut in whisky tariffs and economic cooperation agreements – there was growing concern in the UK over the prospect of a return visit.While travelling to Beijing, Starmer had said the UK government would remain “clear-eyed and realistic” about national security threats from China, despite Beijing’s espionage activities in the UK and imposition of sanctions on British MPs.But asked whether Starmer would like Xi to visit the UK, his official spokesperson said: “The prime minister has been clear that a reset relationship with China, that it’s no longer in an ice age, is beneficial to British people and British business
Slurp the blues away: Ravinder Bhogal’s recipes for winter noodle soup-stews
Savoury snacks to stave off the lure of the biscuit tin | Kitchen aide
José Pizarro’s recipe for slow-roast celeriac with rosemary and crisp chorizo
Georginia Hayden’s quick and easy recipe for roast sprout salad with anchovies and parmesan | Quick and easy
‘Dad never took his customers for granted’: remembering Abdul’s in Sydney’s ‘Little Lebanon’
How to make a clootie dumpling – recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass