Curran ecstatic after winning return with England

Tom Curran needed just three words to describe being back in England’s dominant one-day side and winning games of cricket – “so, so good”.

Curran returned to England colours for the first time in more than six months after being picked to replace the injured Liam Dawson for the third oneday international in Pallekele and spent the best part of six frustrating hours watching the rain fall.

When the covers were finally removed and play got under way at 8.15pm there was only room for 21 overs per innings, but that was plenty for the tourists - and their 23-year-old seamer - to take care of business.

“So, so good,” said a beaming Curran after a seven-wicket victory for the world’s number one side. “It’s nice to be back in this team and nice to go 2-0 up in the series after a long day. I just wanted to get out there.”

Eoin Morgan (58no) and Ben Stokes (35no) sealed victory with the bat but Sri Lanka were painfully short of runs with 150 for nine. They faded after a blister- ing start as Adil Rashid claimed four for 36 and Curran turned in exemplary figures of three for 17.

His combination of seamers, cutters and backof-the-hand slower balls accounted for dangerman Niroshan Dickwella, captain Dinesh Chandimal and all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva and cost one boundary in four overs.

With England’s pace bowling stocks as swollen as they are ahead of next year’s World Cup - Curran joins David Willey, Mark Wood, Olly Stone and brother Sam in vying for a maximum of three places in the final 15 - it is the kind of display that is not just desirable, but necessary.

Curran added: “That’s the beauty of the strength in our squad, there is such competition for places.”

Tom Curran: Good to be back and victorious