Dani Wyatt-Hodge and Freya Kemp spark England defeat in Women’s World Cup T20 opener

Results in brief: England (219/1) beat Sri Lanka (132 all out in 20 overs) by 87 runs in their 2026 Women’s World Cup T20, Group B match at Edgbaston. Highlights | Scorecard

England couldn’t have asked for a better start to their Women’s World T20 campaign as they dismantled Sri Lanka by 87 runs at Edgbaston on Friday night after posting the highest total in the history of the tournament.

It was Danni Wyatt-Hodge who laid the platform for England’s record night. The opening combination of Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones came under scrutiny during the warm-up matches, but England insisted on the pairing to open the tournament and were amply rewarded. The duo put together a commanding 135-run stand, neutralizing Sri Lanka’s threat with the new ball and laying the foundation for a batting performance that would rewrite the record books.

While Jones played an ideal supporting role with a fluent 53 off 38 deliveries, it was Wyatt-Hodge who dictated the terms. She was aggressive from the start, finding the boundary with remarkable regularity and ensuring that England never lost momentum. Her unbeaten 105 from 62 balls included 13 fours and a six as she repeatedly plowed through the pitch and punished anything that went astray.

It was a classic mix of aggression and composure. Wyatt-Hodge was the aggressor, taking on the bowlers and keeping the markers moving at a fast pace, while Jones initially played the role of anchor, rotating the strike and allowing her partner to dominate. However, once she was set, Jones unleashed her own batting streak and ensured Sri Lanka found no respite as England’s opening pair took complete control of the match.

By the time Jones left, Sri Lanka were already staring at an uphill battle.

CAPTAIN NSB FINISHES IN STYLE

With the platform firmly in place, Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt made the final adjustments. Walking in with a handful of overs remaining, she wasted little time forcing herself into the contest, smashing an unbeaten 46 off 22 deliveries. Her late onslaught, which included six fours and a six, took England to 219 for 1, breaking the previous Women’s T20 World Cup record they set against Pakistan in 2023.

The acceleration at the death ensured that England finished with the highest total in the history of the tournament and Sri Lanka must have needed something extraordinary to stay in the contest.

ENGLAND BOWLERS SNUF OUT CHASE

England’s bowlers, who did the damage with the bat, ensured there was no going back for Sri Lanka. Lauren Bell, Charlie Dean and Linsey Smith combined effectively on the power play to eliminate the top three, including captain Chamari Athapaththu’s prized goal. The Sri Lankan skipper never looked comfortable and fell for just four after Wyatt-Hodge completed a superb catch to hand Dean an early breakthrough.

In Sri Lanka, Harshita Samarawickrama was one of the few batsmen who clearly understood the extent of the problem. Rather than resorting to blind aggression, trying to manipulate the field and find gaps, she briefly offered a glimmer of resistance amid the collapse unfolding around her. Her blistering 29 off 18 balls included three fours and a six, but just when she looked set to anchor the chase, a lapse in judgment caused her downfall. Samarawickrama misread the delivery when trying to play across the line to a well-disguised slower ball from Freya Kemp and paid the price.

Constant bowling changes from Sciver-Brunt prevented Sri Lanka’s batting from settling into any rhythm. The move paid off handsomely as Kemp returned for a second spell and tore through the middle order. The left-armer removed Kavisha Dilhari and struck twice more in quick succession, dismissing Kaushani Nuthyangana and Sugandika Kumari to snuff out any lingering hopes of a fightback.

Nilakshi Silva provided a brief spark with a spirited 39 off 33 balls and was the last recognized batsman to offer meaningful resistance. However, with wickets regularly falling around her and the required speed spiraling out of control, the target always remained out of reach. Charlie Dean finished with 2 for 18 while Sophie Ecclestone took two late wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 132.

Kemp finished with excellent figures of 4 for 22 to cap off a dominant all-round performance from the hosts. For England winning every Women’s World Cup hosted on home soil, it was the perfect opening statement. Breaking records with the bat, ruthless with the ball and sharp in the field, they set an early marker for the rest of the tournament.

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

13 Jun 2026 03:50 IST