England set tournament record with dominant 87-run victory over Sri Lanka
Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s unbeaten century and Freya Kemp’s four-wicket haul secure a statement win for the defending champions.
England have begun their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a commanding performance, defeating Sri Lanka by 87 runs in the opening match at Edgbaston. The hosts posted a tournament-record total of 219-1 in their 20 overs, driven by a monumental innings from Danni Wyatt-Hodge, before restricting the visitors to 132 all out.
Wyatt-Hodge, 35, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 105 from 62 balls, marking her third T20 century. The veteran opener, who returned to international cricket following parental leave on 30 May, celebrated her milestone by rocking her bat in her arms. She had previously struggled for form since her return, recording single-figure scores in her last three innings, but produced a supreme display to guide England to the highest team total in Women’s T20 World Cup history.
The foundation for the record score was laid by a 136-run opening partnership with Amy Jones, who contributed 53 from 38 balls. Jones was dismissed twice due to dropped catches by the Sri Lankan fielding side, highlighting the visitors' early struggles. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt finished the innings with an unbeaten 46 from 22 balls, lifting Wyatt-Hodge in celebration after the century was reached.
Sri Lanka’s chase was hampered by both batting errors and disciplined bowling from England. The visitors were bowled out for 132 in 19.5 overs, with left-armer Freya Kemp taking 4-21 to seal the victory. Wyatt-Hodge also contributed with the ball, claiming a wicket with a steepling catch to dismiss Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu for four runs.
The victory provides a strong start for the defending champions, who won the previous Women’s World Cup in 2017. England’s next fixture is scheduled against Ireland in Southampton on Tuesday, while Ireland and Scotland are set to play on Saturday morning.
