LIVE: Sri Lanka choose to field first against England in Women's T20 WC opener
Sri Lanka will field first against England in the opening match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston, after winning the toss. Chamari Athapaththu leads Sri Lanka, who are chasing their first World Cup title, while England, hosting their first home World Cup, seek to avoid becoming the first hosts to lose a match.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 kicked off with Sri Lanka choosing to field first against England in the opening match at Edgbaston on Friday evening. Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka’s captain, won the toss and opted for fielding, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash between two teams with contrasting histories in the tournament. England entered the match following a five-run victory over India in their final warm-up game, while Sri Lanka secured back-to-back wins against the Netherlands and Pakistan. The hosts face pressure as England have never lost a World Cup they have hosted, either in ODIs or T20Is, while Sri Lanka aim for their first-ever World Cup title. The match features England’s top-order batters, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Heather Knight, alongside bowlers like Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell. Sri Lanka’s lineup includes Chamari Athapaththu, who has competed in all 10 T20 World Cup editions since 2009, alongside key players like Vishmi Gunarathne and Mithali Ayodhya. The teams will battle under the lights at Edgbaston, with Sri Lanka’s bowling attack led by Malki Madara and Mithali Ayodhya looking to restrict England’s explosive batting lineup. This match marks the beginning of a tournament where England’s unbeaten home record in World Cups is on the line, while Sri Lanka seek a historic breakthrough in their quest for a championship.
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