England could hardly have scripted a better start to their home T20 World Cup. Danni Wyatt-Hodge marked a deeply personal night with a century and guided the hosts to an 87-run victory over Sri Lanka in the tournament opener at Edgbaston — a win that blended sporting drama, team spirit, and motherhood.
After driving the ball to the boundary to reach her third T20 international hundred, Wyatt-Hodge punched the air in celebration. Nat Sciver-Brunt lifted her in a hug at the crease before Wyatt-Hodge ran back down the pitch and cradled her bat in a gesture dedicated to newborn daughter Daisy.
Sciver-Brunt, England’s captain and a mother herself, shared the moment at the wicket. Wyatt-Hodge later said she felt nervous as the crowd pushed her toward three figures, and credited Sciver-Brunt for urging her to stay calm and trust her timing.
There was brief doubt over whether Wyatt-Hodge would reach the milestone. Sciver-Brunt struck three fours off Mithali Ayodhya in the 19th over and added four and six off Malki Madara in the last. A single off the fourth ball of the final over, however, handed Wyatt-Hodge strike, and she finished the job next ball.
Wyatt-Hodge admitted she would have been content on 96 not out, but around 90 she decided to push for a hundred in Daisy’s honour. She described finally reaching her third T20 ton — a landmark she had chased for years — as especially meaningful in front of family at Edgbaston.
She has not seen Daisy since joining the England squad for the T20 series against India from 28 May, but planned to reunite in Southampton before the second group match against Ireland on Tuesday. Wyatt-Hodge said motherhood had changed her outlook entirely and that she was eager for Daisy to watch the rest of the tournament from the stands.
Form had been patchy beforehand. She played only two competitive matches for England this summer before facing Sri Lanka, making 29 and 5 in the last two T20Is against India after missing the opening fixture. She sat out the series against New Zealand while her wife Georgie gave birth in May, then managed 4 and 3 in warm-up games against Australia and India. None of that showed against Sri Lanka.
With Amy Jones as a new opening partner and 14,865 fans behind her, Wyatt-Hodge batted with freedom and clarity. She spoke about the volatility of T20 batting and her ability to stay even-minded, insisting she would reset and approach the next game with the same intent.
Sciver-Brunt, playing her first international since the 50-over World Cup semi-final on 29 October after a calf injury on 29 April, backed up a warm-up half-century with an unbeaten 46 from 22 balls, including six fours and a six.
Jones, opening in a T20I for the first time since the 2020 World Cup after batting at three in the India series, shared a 135-run stand with Wyatt-Hodge and made a fluent 53 from 38 deliveries.
Freya Kemp added another layer to the story with four for 22 in four overs, bowling Sri Lanka out for 132 on the final ball. Kemp has endured long spells managing back stress injuries, and completing a full allocation in a home World Cup opener marked a major step in her recovery plan.
England arrive at this point after a turbulent stretch — a group-stage exit at the 2024 T20 World Cup, a difficult Ashes, a coaching change, a new captain, and plenty of squad rotation. Recent 2–1 series wins over New Zealand and India suggest momentum is building.
The evening began with a performance from the cast of Wicked The Musical, marking the show’s 20th anniversary in London. England’s own opening night matched the occasion: polished, emotional, and full of promise for tougher tests ahead.