England faced Sri Lanka in the opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Friday (June 12) and secured a comprehensive 87-run victory at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The hosts rode on opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s unbeaten knock of 105 runs off 62 balls to post a formidable total of 219/1 in their 20 overs before bowling Sri Lanka out for just 132 runs.
For the Nat Sciver-Brunt-led side, 21-year-old fast-bowling all-rounder Freya Kemp starred with the ball, claiming 4 wickets for 22 runs in her four overs. Charlotte Dean and Sophie Ecclestone also chipped in with two wickets each.
By taking four wickets against Sri Lanka, Kemp entered the record books. The 21-year-old left-arm seamer became only the second bowler in Women’s T20 World Cup history
to take four wickets in the opening match of a tournament edition.
Before Kemp, only one bowler had achieved the feat — India’s Poonam Yadav.
Poonam picked up 4 wickets for 19 runs against Australia in the opening match of the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup, which was played in Sydney on February 21, 2020.
Best bowling figures in T20 World Cup openers
| PLAYER | COUNTRY | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Poonam Yadav | India | 4 | 19 | 4 | Australia | Sydney | February 21, 2020 |
| Freya Kemp | England | 4 | 22 | 4 | Sri Lanka | Birmingham | June 12, 2026 |
| Shikha Pandey | India | 3.3 | 14 | 3 | Australia | Sydney | February 21, 2020 |
| Inoka Ranaweera | Sri Lanka | 4 | 18 | 3 | South Africa | Cape Town | February 10, 2023 |
| Dayalan Hemalatha | India | 4 | 26 | 3 | New Zealand | Providence | November 9, 2018 |
| Poonam Yadav | India | 4 | 33 | 3 | New Zealand | Providence | November 9, 2018 |
| Susan Benade | South Africa | 4 | 7 | 2 | Sri Lanka | Galle | September 26, 2012 |
| Sarah Coyte | Australia | 3 | 8 | 2 | New Zealand | Sylhet | March 23, 2014 |
| Dane van Niekerk | South Africa | 4 | 9 | 2 | Sri Lanka | Galle | September 26, 2012 |
| Inoka Ranaweera | Sri Lanka | 4 | 15 | 2 | South Africa | Galle | September 26, 2012 |
Kemp, who made her T20I debut for England in 2022, opened her wicket account on Friday by dismissing Harshitha Samarawickrama on the third ball of the ninth over of Sri Lanka’s innings. The 21-year-old bowled Samarawickrama after the batter had scored 29 runs off 18 balls.
Kemp’s second wicket came in the form of Kavisha Dilhari, who was caught by Linsey Smith on the third ball of the 13th over of the run chase. Two balls later, Kemp bowled Kaushani Nuthyangana for a two-ball duck.
She then struck again on the very next delivery (12.6 overs), breaching Sugandika Kumari’s defence to claim her fourth wicket of the match.
Sugandika Kumari was unable to open her account and was dismissed for a golden duck.
Freya Kemp became only the third England bowler after Holly Colvin and Danni Wyatt-Hodge to take a four-wicket haul in a Women’s T20 World Cup match.
Four-fers for England in Women’s T20 World Cup
| PLAYER | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Holly Colvin | 3.4 | 9 | 4 | Pakistan | Galle | September 27, 2012 |
| Danni Wyatt-Hodge | 3 | 11 | 4 | South Africa | Basseterre | May 9, 2010 |
| Freya Kemp | 4 | 21 | 4 | Sri Lanka | Birmingham | June 12, 2026 |
Bowlers to take 4-wicket haul on Women’s T20 World Cup debut
| PLAYER | COUNTRY | OVERS | RUNS | WICKETS | AGAINST | VENUE | DATE |
| Diana David | India | 4 | 27 | 4 | New Zealand | Basseterre | May 6, 2010 |
| Danni Wyatt-Hodge | England | 3 | 11 | 4 | South Africa | Basseterre | May 9, 2010 |
| Freya Kemp | England | 4 | 21 | 4 | Sri Lanka | Birmingham | June 12, 2026 |
She also became just the third bowler in the tournament’s history to claim a four-wicket haul on her Women’s T20 World Cup debut.
