Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Freya Kemp Star as England Beat Sri Lanka by 87 Runs

England could not have asked for a better start to their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. An 87-run victory over Sri Lanka at Edgbaston was built on one of the finest batting displays in tournament history before the bowlers completed the job in emphatic fashion.

The numbers behind England's win underline just how dominant they were from start to finish.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge Joins Exclusive World Cup Club

Danni Wyatt-Hodge's unbeaten 105 off 62 balls was the standout performance of the match. The century was only the seventh hundred in the history of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, placing the veteran opener in an elite group of batters.

Her innings featured:

• 105* runs
• 62 balls faced
• 14 boundaries
• Strike rate of 169.35

The hundred also arrived in dramatic fashion, with Wyatt-Hodge reaching the milestone off the penultimate ball of England's innings.

Having played international cricket for over a decade, the knock was one of the most significant of her career and the first century of the 2026 tournament.

England's Opening Pair Sets New Benchmark

Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones laid the platform with a commanding 135-run opening partnership, effectively taking the game away from Sri Lanka before the halfway stage.

Jones contributed:

• 53 runs off 38 balls
• Five boundaries
• Strike rate of 139.47

The partnership accounted for more than 61 percent of England's total score and ensured England never lost momentum throughout the innings.

England Post One of the Tournament's Biggest Totals

England's 219/1 ranks among the highest totals in Women's T20 World Cup history and immediately establishes them as one of the most dangerous batting units in the competition.

The innings featured:

• Just one wicket lost
• Run rate of 10.95 per over
• Three batters scoring at strike rates above 139

Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt provided the finishing flourish with:

• 46* off 22 balls
• Six fours
• One six
• Strike rate of 209.09

Her late assault ensured England added 84 runs after the fall of the first wicket despite only six overs remaining.

Sri Lanka's Chase Never Got Going

Asked to score at almost 11 runs per over from the outset, Sri Lanka found themselves under pressure immediately.

The top order struggled:

• Vishmi Gunaratne: 0
• Chamari Athapaththu: 4
• Harshitha Samarawickrama: 29

At one stage Sri Lanka slipped to 58/4 before collapsing further to 92/8.

Only Nilakshika de Silva offered sustained resistance with 39 runs, while no batter managed a half-century during the chase.

Freya Kemp's Match-Turning Spell

While Wyatt-Hodge dominated with the bat, Freya Kemp delivered the defining spell with the ball.

Her figures:

• 4/22
• Economy rate of 5.50

The left-arm seamer effectively ended the contest during the 13th over when she claimed three wickets in four deliveries, reducing Sri Lanka from an outside chance to complete disarray.

Kemp's spell was supported by Charlie Dean, who returned figures of 2/18 as England maintained pressure throughout the innings.

Early Group B Statement

The victory gives England:

• 2 points
• A significant net run-rate boost
• Early control of Group B

An 87-run margin is also among England's biggest victories in Women's T20 World Cup history, underlining the gulf between the two sides on opening day.

For Sri Lanka, the defeat exposed concerns with both bat and ball. They conceded 219 runs, dropped multiple chances in the field and were eventually bowled out for 132 despite batting the full 20 overs.

For England, however, the opening match delivered exactly the kind of statement performance title contenders hope for. With Wyatt-Hodge producing a historic century and the bowling attack firing in tandem, the hosts have immediately laid down a marker to the rest of the tournament.