England set the stage alight with record batting performance
Danni Wyatt-Hodge's century set up a 87-run win for England over Sri Lanka on Friday
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The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 is bigger and bolder than ever. And hosts England fashioned a blockbuster start, piling on a tournament high of 219/1 in the opening match against Sri Lanka in Edgbaston on Friday.
By doing so, England overhauled their own record of 213/5 set against Pakistan in 2023.
It was Danni Wyatt-Hodge who set the ball rolling with an unbeaten 105. Carrying that confidence in the field, England dismissed Sri Lanka for 132 for a statement 87-run win.
Nat Sciver-Brunt's side is not just grappling with the pressure of playing a home World Cup, but also have history to contend with -- England women's team have never lost a World Cup they have hosted, either ODI or T20I.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are chasing their first title at the World Cup.
England fire on all fronts against Sri Lanka | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
England kickstart their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a massive 87-run victory over Sri Lanka.
After being put into bat, England started cautiously, hitting the accelerator just before the end of powerplay to score 51/0 in the first six over.
A 135-run opening wicket partnership between Amy Jones (53) and Wyatt-Hodge gave them the perfect launchpad. They kept pressing the advantage, making sure they got the quick ones and twos even though the boundaries flowed easily.
It has been a life-changing month for Wyatt-Hodge, whose partner Georgie gave birth to their first child on May 20. Just a few days later, she came out to score the opening hundred of the World Cup, seventh in the tournament history and only second by an English woman.
She made the most of the width afforded to her. Wyatt-Hodge brought up the milestone with a sweep for four and put a exclamation on a historic innings for England with another boundary on the final ball.
That meant, England scored 26 runs from the final over. Carrying her bat through, Wyatt-Hodge ended at 105 off 62, with the help of 13 fours and a six.
The Wyatt-Hodge masterclass at Edgbaston | POTM Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
A majestic ton from Danni Wyatt-Hodge secured England a win in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 opener.
Jones was a tad lucky as she was dropped on 12 and then again on 48. She brought up her seventh half-century in T20Is, scoring 53 off 38.
Sri Lanka struggled to hit the spots with the ball and were sloppy in field as well. They finally got a breakthrough in the 14th over as Jones mistimed a delivery by Malki Madara and ended up spooning a catch to Athapaththu at mid off.
However, that didn't halt the English juggernaut. Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, who has recently recovered from injury, played with conviction and innovation to score 46 off 22.
Jones puts on a batting clinic | Player Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Fluent as ever England opener Amy Jones begins her home ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a knock of 53 runs from 38 balls against Sri Lanka.
Chasing a record target, Sri Lanka never really got going. Talismanic skipper Chamari Athapaththu fell for four in the fourth over, courtesy an incredible catch from wicketkeeper Wyatt-Hodge off Charlie Dean and Sri Lanka slipped to 39/3 in powerplay.
The only glimmer of hope was Harshitha Samarawickrama, who struck three fours and a six for 29. But Freya Kemp snuffed out the danger, as she got the ball to straighten and get past Samarawickrama's defence.
Left-arm pacer Kemp, on a hat-trick at one point, impressed with her intelligent change-ups and finished with 4/22 in her four overs.
Lower down the order, Nilakshika Silva came up with a gritty 39, the highest score for Sri Lanka on the day, but it was too little too late.
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Kemp leaves the batters stunned | Women's T20WC 2026
England's Freya Kemp left Sri Lankan batters reeling in the chase as she picked up three wickets in the 13th over at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.