Danni Wyatt-Hodge blazed an unbeaten 105 — dedicating every run to her newborn daughter Daisy — as England demolished Sri Lanka by 87 runs in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup opener at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Friday, 13 June. England posted a tournament-record 219/1 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 132, announcing their title credentials in emphatic fashion.

The Innings That Stopped Edgbaston

Just weeks after giving birth to her first child, the 35-year-old Wyatt-Hodge produced one of the finest knocks of her career. She reached three figures off the penultimate legal delivery of England's innings, immediately celebrating with a cradle gesture for Daisy before embracing captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.

'I think I was on about 90 and I was like, I could actually get 100 now and do it for Daisy,' Wyatt-Hodge said after the match. 'I've been after that third T20I hundred for a few years now, so I was chuffed a bit to get it out there at Edgbaston in front of my family as well. It was really, really special.'

A Historic Milestone for England

The century was Wyatt-Hodge's third T20 International hundred, making her only the second England player to score a century at a Women's T20 World Cup. Former captain Heather Knight was the first, having achieved the feat against Thailand in 2020. England's total of 219/1 also set a new tournament record, underlining the depth and firepower in their batting line-up.

The Shot That Sealed the Century

Wyatt-Hodge was characteristically candid about the stroke that brought up her hundred. 'The girl (Malki Madara) that was bowling was going quite slow and wide and square (leg) was up, so I was like, right, let's just jump across and try and hoick at it and try and get it through the gap,' she explained. 'And once I saw it pierce the gap and go for four, as you can see... I was really happy.'

Motherhood, Emotion, and a New Perspective

Wyatt-Hodge admitted she had not seen Daisy since joining the England squad and was due to be reunited with her daughter in Southampton ahead of the team's next fixture. 'It feels like I've not seen her for months and it just puts a whole new perspective on things,' she said. 'It's all I think about, even in the night as well. It's just incredible and I can't wait for her to come and cheer us on for the rest of the tournament.'

Several England teammates were reportedly moved to tears by the moment. 'I think a few of the girls said they had a few tears, so yeah, hopefully we can do it again in front of her this time,' Wyatt-Hodge added.

What's Next for England

England face Ireland in their second Group-stage match on Tuesday in Southampton, with momentum and a tournament-record total already behind them. The victory signals that England, despite the personal upheavals of key players, remain a formidable force in the competition.