England Women opened their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in devastating style, posting a tournament-record 219/1 and dismissing Sri Lanka for 132 to win by 87 runs at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 13 June 2026. The total surpassed England's own previous highest score in Women's T20 Internationals and announced Nat Sciver-Brunt's side as early title contenders.

Wyatt-Hodge's Historic Century Sets the Platform

Danni Wyatt-Hodge produced one of the innings of the tournament, carrying her bat through the full 20 overs for an unbeaten 105 off 62 balls, laced with 13 fours and a six. She became only the second Englishwoman to score a century at a Women's T20 World Cup and just the seventh woman overall in the tournament's history to reach three figures. Her hundred arrived with a sweep to the boundary, and she closed the innings with another boundary as England plundered 26 runs off the final over.

The century carried added personal significance — Wyatt-Hodge's partner Georgie had given birth to their first child on 20 May, just 24 days before this landmark knock.

Jones and Wyatt-Hodge Build a Commanding Foundation

Put into bat, England moved steadily through the powerplay, reaching 51/0 at the end of six overs. Amy Jones and Wyatt-Hodge constructed a 135-run opening partnership that laid the groundwork for the record total. Jones, dropped twice — at 12 and 48 — made Sri Lanka pay with a brisk 53 off 38 balls, her seventh T20I half-century, before mistiming a drive to Malki Madara at mid-off in the 14th over. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt then contributed a blistering late cameo of 46 off 22 balls to push the total to its record height.

England's Bowlers Dismantle Sri Lanka's Chase

Chasing 220, Sri Lanka were never in contention. The hosts struck early and often, reducing the visitors to 39/3 in the powerplay. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu fell cheaply for 4 in the fourth over, caught behind the stumps by Charlie Dean. Freya Kemp was the pick of the England attack, bowling with sharp variations and at one point threatening a hat-trick, finishing with outstanding figures of 4 for 22 off four overs. Dean chipped in with 2 for 18.

Harshitha Samarawickrama held the middle order together briefly with 29, including three boundaries and a six, before being bowled through the gate by Kemp. Nilakshika Silva top-scored for Sri Lanka with a fighting 39 at the lower order, but the chase was never alive. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 132 in 20 overs.

England's Unbeaten Home World Cup Record Intact

The victory extended England Women's remarkable record of never losing a World Cup match — ODI or T20I — on home soil. Notably, this was also the opening match of the tournament, and the manner of the win sends a clear statement of intent to rival nations. England's blend of explosive batting depth and disciplined bowling makes them the team to beat in this edition.

England's next fixture will be closely watched as they look to build on this dominant start and strengthen their path to the knockout rounds.

Brief Scores: England Women 219/1 in 20 overs (Danni Wyatt-Hodge 105*, Amy Jones 53; Malki Madara 1-51) beat Sri Lanka Women 132/10 in 20 overs (Nilakshika Silva 39, Harshitha Samarawickrama 29; Freya Kemp 4-22, Charlie Dean 2-18) by 87 runs.