England Dominates Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup Opener with Wyatt-Hodge's Stunning Century

England Dominates Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup Opener with Wyatt-Hodge's Stunning Century

Nat Sciver-Brunt praised her team's ruthlessness as England kicked off the ICC Women's T20 World Cup with a commanding victory over Sri Lanka at Edgbaston. The match saw Danni Wyatt-Hodge shine with a spectacular innings of 105 not out, complemented by a remarkable catch to dismiss Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu. In a powerful opening partnership, Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones amassed 136 runs, setting the stage for England's total of 219-1 in their allotted 20 overs, with Sciver-Brunt contributing 46 runs off 22 balls. Sri Lanka struggled to chase down the target, collapsing to 132 all out, resulting in an 87-run defeat. Freya Kemp made a notable impact on her World Cup debut, taking 4 wickets for 21 runs, while Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone each secured two wickets. "It's a massive win for us," Sciver-Brunt remarked on Sky Sports Cricket. She highlighted the composure of her team and the importance of starting strong in a World Cup. Wyatt-Hodge, celebrating her third T20 century, dedicated her milestone to her daughter Daisy, mentioning the joy of playing in front of the enthusiastic crowd. In contrast, Athapaththu expressed disappointment in her team's performance, stating they needed to improve across all departments. She acknowledged the need for better bowling strategies and maintaining momentum during the match. Looking ahead, Sri Lanka aims to regroup before facing New Zealand, while England prepares for their next match against Ireland on June 16.

Source: Sky Sports - 2026-06-12