Danny Wyatt-Hodge (Image Credit: T20 World Cup)

New Delhi: Danny Wyatt-Hodge scored an unbeaten century as hosts England made a strong start to their campaign in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 as they defeated Sri Lanka by 87 runs in the tournament opener at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Friday.Wyatt-Hodge’s brilliant innings helped England post a record 219/1 – the team’s highest score in Women’s T20 World Cup history – before their bowlers completed a dominant all-round performance by bowling out Sri Lanka for 132.

After Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and decided to field, England’s opening pair of Amy Jones and Danny Wyatt-Hodge set the right platform with a strong 135-run partnership.The hosts made a cautious start but showed great momentum after the powerplay, scoring 51 runs without any loss in the first six overs and then took complete control of the match.After being dismissed for 12 and then 48, Jones made the most of two respites and scored 53 runs from 38 balls and registered his seventh T20I half-century.Sri Lanka finally got the breakthrough in the 14th over when Jones mistimed Malki Madara and gave a simple catch to Athapaththu at mid-off.

If Jones provided the foundation, Wyatt-Hodge provided the fireworks.The experienced opening batsman scored her first century of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup and only the seventh in the history of the tournament. This was his first century of the World Cup and also the second century scored by an English batsman in the competition.Wyatt-Hodge, whose partner Georgie gave birth to their first child on May 20, played a brilliant innings and remained unbeaten on 105 off 62 balls. She hit 13 fours and one six and achieved this feat by sweeping it to the boundary.The right-handed batsman wielded his bat throughout the innings and ended the historic effort by hitting a four on the final ball.England also performed strongly, scoring 26 runs in the final over – another record for the tournament.Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt finished the match with an unbeaten 46 off just 22 balls and shared an unbroken 84-run partnership with Wyatt-Hodge for the second wicket.

Faced with a tough target of 220 runs, Sri Lanka never managed to build any meaningful momentum in the chase.Freya Kemp performed brilliantly with the ball and took 4 wickets for 22 runs in her four overs. Charlotte Dean and Sophie Ecclestone took two wickets each, while Lauren Bell and Lynsey Smith took one wicket each.Sri Lanka struggled against a disciplined England attack and were eventually bowled out for 132, giving the hosts a comprehensive 87-run win.

England’s 219/1 overtook the previous highest Women’s T20 World Cup score of 213/5, which England themselves scored against Pakistan in 2023.The win also underlined England’s credentials as one of the title contenders as they made a strong start to their domestic World Cup campaign.England next face Ireland at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on June 16, while Sri Lanka take on New Zealand at the same venue on the same day.

Team’s highest score in Women’s T20 World Cup

Most centuries in Women’s T20I

Century in Women’s T20 WC