Danni Wyatt-Hodge (Image credit: T20 World Cup)

NEW DELHI: Danni Wyatt-Hodge smashed an unbeaten century as hosts England began their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Sri Lanka by 87 runs in the tournament opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday.Wyatt-Hodge’s magnificent knock helped England post a record-breaking 219/1 – the highest team total in Women’s T20 World Cup history – before their bowlers completed a dominant all-round performance by bowling Sri Lanka out for 132.

After Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and opted to field, England’s opening pair of Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt-Hodge laid the perfect platform with a commanding 135-run stand.The hosts started cautiously but accelerated brilliantly after the Powerplay, reaching 51 without loss in the first six overs before taking complete control of the contest.Jones made the most of two reprieves, having been dropped on 12 and again on 48, to score a fluent 53 off 38 balls and register her seventh T20I half-century.Sri Lanka finally broke through in the 14th over when Jones mistimed Malki Madara and offered a simple catch to Athapaththu at mid-off.

If Jones provided the foundation, Wyatt-Hodge delivered the fireworks.The experienced opener brought up the first century of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup and only the seventh hundred in the tournament’s history. It was also her maiden World Cup century and just the second by an English batter in the competition.Wyatt-Hodge, whose partner Georgie gave birth to their first child on May 20, played a superb innings, finishing unbeaten on 105 from 62 deliveries. She struck 13 fours and a six, reaching the milestone with a sweep to the boundary.The right-hander carried her bat through the innings and capped off the historic effort by hitting a boundary off the final ball.England also finished strongly, scoring 26 runs in the final over – another tournament record.Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 46 off just 22 balls, sharing an unbroken 84-run partnership with Wyatt-Hodge for the second wicket.

Faced with a daunting target of 220, Sri Lanka never managed to build any meaningful momentum in the chase.Freya Kemp starred with the ball, returning impressive figures of 4/22 from her four overs. Charlotte Dean and Sophie Ecclestone chipped in with two wickets each, while Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith claimed one apiece.Sri Lanka struggled against England’s disciplined attack and were eventually bowled out for 132, handing the hosts a comprehensive 87-run victory.

England’s 219/1 surpassed the previous highest Women’s T20 World Cup total of 213/5, which England themselves had scored against Pakistan in 2023.The victory also underlined England’s credentials as one of the favourites for the title as they kicked off their home World Cup campaign in dominant fashion.England will next face Ireland on June 16 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, while Sri Lanka will take on New Zealand at the same venue on the same day.

Highest team totals in Women’s T20 World Cup

Most hundreds in Women’s T20Is

Hundreds in Women’s T20 WC