England Women vs Sri Lanka Women | Match Highlight | Danni Wyatt Hodge Hits Ton

England Women vs Sri Lanka Women Danni Wyatt Hodge Hits Ton

England Women launched their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in spectacular fashion, defeating Sri Lanka Women by a massive 87-run margin at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Powered by a magnificent unbeaten century from Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the hosts delivered a statement performance that immediately established them as one of the strongest contenders for the title.

Playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd, England showcased their batting firepower and all-round depth to secure one of the biggest victories of the tournament's opening stage.

Scorecard

England Women won by 87 runs

ENGW

219/1(20)

SLW

132(20)

Danni Wyatt Hodge Leads England's Batting Masterclass

After Sri Lanka Women elected to bowl first, England's opening pair of Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge wasted no time asserting control. The duo built a commanding 135-run opening partnership that laid the foundation for a massive total.

Amy Jones played a fluent innings of 53 from 38 balls, striking four boundaries and a six. Her positive intent ensured England maintained a healthy scoring rate during the powerplay.

However, the spotlight firmly belonged to Danni Wyatt-Hodge. The experienced opener produced one of the finest innings of the tournament so far, remaining unbeaten on 105 from just 62 deliveries. Her knock included 13 fours and a six while maintaining an impressive strike rate of over 169.

Wyatt-Hodge displayed remarkable control and shot selection throughout her innings, finding gaps consistently and punishing anything loose from the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Nat Sciver Brunt Adds Late Fireworks

England's momentum only increased after Jones departed. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt joined Wyatt-Hodge and unleashed an attacking display in the death overs.

The England skipper smashed an unbeaten 46 from only 22 balls, hitting six boundaries and one six. Her aggressive approach complemented Wyatt-Hodge perfectly as the pair added 84 runs in just 38 deliveries.

By the end of 20 overs, England Women had amassed a daunting 219/1, the highest total of the tournament so far and one of the most dominant batting displays in Women's T20 World Cup history.

Sri Lanka's bowlers struggled to find answers, with every frontline bowler conceding runs at more than eight per over. Malki Madara was the lone wicket-taker, finishing with figures of 1/51.

England Bowlers Complete Clinical Victory

Defending a massive total, England's bowling unit maintained relentless pressure on Sri Lanka from the outset. The required run rate quickly climbed beyond reach as wickets fell at regular intervals.

England's disciplined attack ensured Sri Lanka never gained momentum during the chase. The hosts combined accurate bowling with sharp fielding, forcing mistakes and restricting scoring opportunities.

The pressure created by the enormous target proved too much for Sri Lanka's batting lineup. Despite having experienced players such as Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama, Sri Lanka failed to mount a serious challenge.

England eventually secured an emphatic 87-run victory, giving their net run rate a significant boost in Group B.

Perfect Start for Tournament Hosts

This victory offers England Women the ideal start to their Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. Danni Wyatt-Hodge's unbeaten century highlighted the strength of England's batting order, while the bowling unit demonstrated its ability to defend even the biggest totals with confidence.

For Sri Lanka Women, the defeat serves as a learning experience as they look to regroup ahead of their remaining group-stage fixtures.

England, meanwhile, will take immense confidence from a complete team performance that showcased their championship credentials. If Wyatt-Hodge and Sciver-Brunt continue this form, England will remain one of the teams to beat in the race for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 crown.