England’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign got off to the perfect start as Danni Wyatt-Hodge delivered a sensational unbeaten century against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12. The experienced opener produced one of the standout performances of the tournament so far, scoring a brilliant 105* to guide England to a commanding 87-run victory in front of a packed home crowd.

While the century itself was a major milestone, it carried even deeper emotional significance for Wyatt-Hodge. Just weeks after becoming a mother for the first time, the 35-year-old dedicated her memorable innings to her newborn daughter, Daisy, making the moment even more special.

Batting with confidence and composure throughout the innings, Wyatt-Hodge anchored England’s total and accelerated when it mattered most. She reached her hundred on the penultimate legal delivery of the innings before celebrating with a touching tribute, rocking an imaginary baby in her arms and sharing an emotional embrace with captain Nat Sciver-Brunt. The gesture quickly became one of the defining images of the opening week of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

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Speaking after the match, Wyatt-Hodge revealed that thoughts of Daisy inspired her during the closing stages of her innings. As she approached the three-figure mark, she realized the opportunity to dedicate a century to her daughter and was determined to make it count.

“I think I was on about 90 and I thought I could actually get a hundred now and do it for Daisy,” Dani Wyatt-Hodge said. She explained how she targeted a specific gap in the field and was thrilled when the ball raced away for four, helping her reach the milestone in style.

The knock marked the third T20I century of Wyatt-Hodge’s international career, ending a lengthy wait for another hundred in the shortest format. It also secured her place in England’s World Cup history, as she became only the second England women’s cricketer to score a century at a Women’s T20 World Cup after former captain Heather Knight achieved the feat in 2020.

One for the little one 👶

Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s celebrated her century in the World Cup opener with a nod to her newly born daughter 😁#SLvsENG pic.twitter.com/yf9nRzOyQL

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) June 13, 2026

Wyatt-Hodge admitted the achievement felt even more meaningful because it came at Edgbaston with family and friends watching from the stands. The veteran batter described the moment as one she would cherish for a long time.

England’s star opener also revealed that motherhood has given her a completely new perspective on life and cricket. Having spent time away from Daisy during the tournament buildup, she is eagerly looking forward to being reunited with her daughter before England’s next match against Ireland in Southampton.

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With a century already under her belt and confidence soaring, Wyatt-Hodge has provided England with the ideal start to their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign. If her form continues, she could play a pivotal role in England’s pursuit of World Cup glory on home soil, while creating even more special memories for her growing family.