The 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup got underway in style on Friday, with hosts England Women securing a dominant 87-run victory over Sri Lanka Women in the tournament opener at Birmingham.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka elected to field first, but England’s batters took full advantage of the conditions, posting a massive 219/1 from their 20 overs.
Opening batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge starred with a sensational unbeaten 105 off 62 balls, while Amy Jones provided excellent support with 53 runs. The pair laid the foundation with a superb 135-run opening partnership.
Sri Lanka’s only breakthrough came through Malki Madara, who claimed England’s lone wicket of the innings.
Chasing a daunting target of 220, Sri Lanka struggled to keep pace and were eventually bowled out for 132 runs.
Nilakshika Silva was the top scorer for Sri Lanka with 39 runs, while Harshitha Samarawickrama contributed 29.
England’s bowling attack was led by Freya Kemp, who produced an outstanding spell of 4 wickets for 22 runs. Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean chipped in with two wickets each, while Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith picked up one wicket apiece.
The comprehensive victory gives England the perfect start to their home World Cup campaign, while Sri Lanka will be looking to bounce back quickly in their upcoming group-stage matches.
The tournament continues today with two exciting clashes:
- Australia Women vs South Africa Women
- New Zealand Women vs West Indies Women
