Host England registered a mammoth 87-run win over Sri Lanka in the opening match of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Edgbaston in England.
England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge wowed the crowd in the match, which was held after a beautiful live performance by the famous West London theatre group ‘Wicked’.
England Women, who won the toss and elected to bat first, posted a mammoth 219 for the loss of just one wicket in their allotted 20 overs.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge played a brilliant innings for England, scoring an unbeaten 105 off 62 balls with 14 fours and a six.
This was also the 7th century in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Amy Jones, who provided her with invaluable support, scored 53 off 38 balls, and the two shared a 135-run partnership for the first wicket.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt then entered the field and scored a quick 46 not out off 22 balls to increase the England score.
A few errors made by the Sri Lankan players in the fielding (lost catches by Kawisha Dilhari and Sugandika Kumari) helped England.
Malki Madara took the only wicket for Sri Lanka, with skipper Chamari Atapattu taking the catch.
Chasing a mammoth target of 220, Sri Lanka were under pressure from the start.
Opener Vishmee Gunaratne was caught on the wrong end of a six off Lauren Bell. The team’s hopeful skipper Chamari Atapattu was also dismissed for four by Charlie Dean.
Harshitha Samarawickrama scored 29 runs with four boundaries and Nilakshika de Silva scored a combative 39 runs to build the innings, but Freya Kemp shattered the Sri Lankan innings. She took 3 wickets in 4 balls in the 13th over of the match.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 132 in 20 overs, with England winning by 87 runs to take the lead in Group B. Freya Kemp took 4 for 22.
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Sinhala