England Vs Sri Lanka Highlights, Women's T20 World Cup: Danni Wyatt-Hodge Century Powers ENG-W To 87-Run Win

England Women Squad: Amy Jones(w), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt(c), Heather Knight, Alice Capsey, Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlotte Dean, Issy Wong, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Sophia Dunkley, Lauren Filer, Tilly Corteen-Coleman

Sri Lanka Women Squad: Chamari Athapaththu(c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushani Nuthyangana(w), Kawya Kavindi, Nilakshika Silva, Sugandika Kumari, Kavisha Dilhari, Mithali Ayodhya, Hasini Perera, Nimasha Meepage, Chethana Vimukthi, Malki Madara

The England vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match will be telecast live on the Star Sports Network in India. The match will also be available for live streaming on the JioHotstar app and website.

Sri Lanka Women have won the toss and have opted to field.

England Women (Playing XI): Amy Jones(w), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt(c), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell

Sri Lanka Women (Playing XI): Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu(c), Imesha Dulani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana(w), Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya

The opening ceremony, with the toss done and a little time left before the first ball is bowled, it's time to turn our attention to the grand opening ceremony of the 10th edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

The opening ceremony has come to an end, and it's now time for the national anthems. The atmosphere is buzzing inside the stadium as the home team walks out to the centre, greeted by loud cheers and a wave of applause from the crowd.

And we are underway! It’s a bright, sunny day in Birmingham as England get ready to face Sri Lanka. No Sophia Dunkley today, with Amy Jones joining Danni Wyatt-Hodge at the top.

Sri Lanka start with pace, handing the new ball to Malki Madara, who looks a little nervous before Chamari Athapaththu steps in for a quick chat. A few deep breaths later, the youngster is ready as England’s openers wait at the crease. No slips in place, the first ball is coming.

The first boundary of the World Cup is here. Danni Wyatt-Hodge wastes no time getting England moving, throwing her hands at a wide full delivery outside off from Mithali Ayodhya. The timing isn’t perfect, but the slice is enough to beat the fielder at deep point and race away to the fence.

Malki Madara offers a little too much width, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge is quick to cash in. The experienced opener rocks back and cuts it up and over backward point with a cracking shot. That’s raced away to the boundary in no time, no running required.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge is finding her groove! A touch of width from Kavisha Dilhari and the England opener guides it away neatly towards deep backward point. The timing is sweet, and it races away to the boundary for another four.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge brings up a special fifty. The England opener reaches her third half-century in Women’s T20 World Cups in style, lofting Chamari Athapaththu inside out over extra cover for another boundary.

A beautiful moment follows as Danni celebrates with the cradle rock gesture, dedicating the milestone to her newborn child. A classy knock, a memorable celebration, and England’s opener is making the occasion even more special.

Sri Lanka finally find the breakthrough at Edgbaston! Malki Madara ends Amy Jones’ fine innings as the England opener goes hard on the drive but only manages to chip it off the lower half of the bat towards mid-off.

Chamari Athapaththu dives forward and completes a sharp catch. A calm celebration from the Sri Lankan captain as Jones walks back after a superb 53 off 38 balls, including four fours and a six.

Nat Sciver-Brunt announces her arrival in style. A full delivery outside off from Mithali Ayodhya is right in her zone, and NSB rocks back to unleash a powerful drive through the gap at extra cover. The timing is superb, and it races away to the boundary.

A magnificent hundred for Danni Wyatt-Hodge. The England opener reaches a dream milestone on home soil and on the biggest stage. A little inside edge off the sweep doesn’t matter one bit, the ball races away, and the celebrations begin.

A brilliant century at the World Cup, in front of her home crowd, as Danni Wyatt-Hodge produces a truly special knock.

England have made a stunning statement in their World Cup opener, posting the highest total in Women’s T20 World Cup history. Put in to bat, England began cautiously before Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones took advantage of Sri Lanka’s missed chances and loosened fielding.

Wyatt-Hodge dominated behind square on the off-side, while Jones used the crease brilliantly to find boundaries on the leg-side. Wyatt-Hodge then took charge with a record-breaking unbeaten 105 off 62 balls, while Nat Sciver-Brunt provided a late surge with a blistering 46 off 22 as England finished with a mammoth 219/1 in 20 overs.

Chase begins in Birmingham as Sri Lanka walk out with Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne at the crease, with Gunaratne taking strike to start things off. England go straight to pace, handing the new ball to Lauren Bell as they look to make early inroads and defend a massive total.

Linsey Smith drops it right in the slot and Chamari Athapaththu doesn’t miss out, launching it over mid-on with a clean swing. It looks like a boundary off the bat, but the outfield does its job as the ball plugs on landing and slows up, allowing the batters to come back for a couple.

Lauren Bell strikes early! Vishmi Gunaratne is trapped plumb in front and the finger goes up immediately. After a quick chat with Chamari Athapaththu, she goes for the review, but it looks a tough call from the start.

The ball is full, nips back sharply, and Gunaratne shuffles across the stumps before playing across the line, completely beaten. Ball-tracking confirms it: crashing into middle stump. Three reds and she has to walk back. Gunaratne departs for 6 off 9, Sri Lanka lose their first wicket.

Danielle Gibson hits a tidy line on a good length, angling it in at the batter. Hansima Karunaratne stays composed, working it neatly off her pads down to fine leg for a single. Sri Lanka keep the scoreboard ticking without taking risks.

Sophie Ecclestone almost has her! She tosses it up beautifully, drawing Kavisha Dilhari onto the back foot, and the batter tries to dab it late under pressure. She’s completely cramped for room and ends up dragging it off a thick inside edge, but it just squirts past leg stump and saves her. A couple of runs come in the end, but that was mighty close.

Freya Kemp strikes again and this time she hits the stumps! A full delivery angled in at Sugandika Kumari, who looks to flick it away but is beaten for pace and movement. It deflects off the pad and crashes into the stumps. No runs, no time to settle, Sugandika is gone for a duck off her very first ball.

Linsey Smith gives it some air outside off and Nilakshika Silva responds with a soft touch, cutting it neatly past short third for a single. Just a calm, controlled stroke to keep the scoreboard moving.

Linsey Smith tosses it up invitingly and Nilakshika Silva doesn’t hesitate this time! She steps out confidently, gets right to the pitch of it, and launches it straight back over long-on for a clean six. A proper statement shot, no doubt about the intent there.

England Women delivered a statement win, hammering Sri Lanka by 87 runs after posting a record-breaking 219/1, the highest total in Women’s T20 World Cup history, powered by Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s brilliant century and strong support from Amy Jones and Nat Sciver-Brunt.

Sri Lanka never really got going in the chase and were kept under constant pressure as England’s bowlers struck regularly and denied any momentum, eventually restricting them to 132/9 in 20 overs to seal a dominant opening victory.

That’s a wrap from this one. England Women open their World Cup campaign in style with a statement win over Sri Lanka. We’ll be back soon with another live blog, until then, goodbye.