Everything falls into place for Tom Curran

NICK HOWSON AT BRISTOL: The Surrey bowling allrounder claimed his second-best England bowling figures, after taking just three wickets in his last 11 ODIs

Scorecard

Tom Curran was left thanking his lucky stars after ending a barren run of form with his second-best England bowling figures in the eventually rained off third one-day international against Sri Lanka at Bristol.

The 26-year-old had failed to take a wicket in nine of his last 11 ODIs and watched brother Sam claimed a maiden white-ball five-for in the victory at The Kia Oval.

But Curran ended an unwanted streak of form with 4 for 35 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 166 at the County Ground.

A deluge of rain prevented England from chasing the total and completing a series whitewash but that did not detract from the performance of the Surrey allrounder, who put his haul down to good fortune.

"It was nice to contribute," said Curran, whose run included just one wicket in two games during the Indian Premier League and three in four in the T20 Blast.

"It isn't like I've done anything differently. It is a funny game. I felt pretty good for a while to be honest. I just haven't quite been getting wickets.

"Even when I came on for my second spell Woakesy (Chris Woakes) bowled an unbelievable spell, beating the edge multiple times and I came on and he (Chamika Karunaratne) nicked the first one to Jonny (Bairstow).

Bad luck Bristol and the need for patience... ENGLAND V SRI LANKA TALKING POINTS

"I don't think I've done much different, I've felt good for a while I just haven't been getting the wickets. It is nice to get a few today."

It was a welcome return to form for Curran, with Mark Wood rested, Jofra Archer still out injured and George Garton still unused, as the race for T20 World Cup selection hots up.

"You guys say I haven't had a good run of form, but to be honest I've felt pretty good bowling," he added.

"From the back-end of last summer when we played Australia, I guess that is where the run of no wickets started, I felt like I was bowling well and doing a good job for the team and bowling tight. That is the way the game works sometimes. 

"I don't feel like I've been bowling bad at all, I haven't felt like a real need for wickets. It has been a funny one.

"Sometimes you bowl really well and don't get a wicket and others you don't bowl as well and cash in with some average balls. I have been trying to train hard during this run of a lack of wickets. I've just been trying to stay level and not get too high or too low."

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