ENG-W vs SL-W Match 1 Results

9:35 PM IST The English top three go bosh and a bang - England could not have asked for a better start to their World Cup campaign. Asked to bat, they were slightly cautious in the first 3 to 4 overs, but that nervous energy eased quickly as Sri Lanka missed chances in the field. Constant bowling changes and fielding errors did Sri Lanka no favours, and the opening duo took full toll. Danni Wyatt-Hodge targeted areas behind square on the off side while Jones used the crease well to find boundaries regularly as well. The opening stand finally broke in the 14th over, but it brought no relief, as skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt walked out with a see-ball, hit-ball approach and provided the late acceleration. Danni slowed down in the final 4 overs but still got to a well-deserved hundred on her home ground, with England's top three putting Sri Lanka to the sword to post the highest total in Women's T20 World Cup history.

9:34 PM IST Hunted in a pack - If their batting performance was solid and ruthless, England turned up with the ball even more strongly. It took 13.4 overs for Sri Lanka to pick up their first wicket, while for the hosts, they wrapped up the Sri Lankan top three inside the Powerplay. And with Chamari Athapaththu dismissed cheaply, it all went down south rather quickly for the Islanders. There was a brief fight from the likes of Harshitha Samarawickrama and Nilakshika Silva but it was all for the losing cause in the end. While one might argue that this is a pretty young and inexperienced Sri Lankan side, they would have liked to give some sort of fight with the bat, having some experienced faces in that department, but that never really happened. For England, Freya Kemp starred with the ball with a sensational 4-wicket haul, whereas with others also chipping in, they just broke the back of this Sri Lankan batting unit.

9:31 PM IST What's next on the menu? A pretty one-sided affair in Edgbaston to kick off the World Cup, but the party has just started as Saturday, 13th June brings a triple delight. The day starts with Scotland Women taking on Ireland Women, followed by a delicious clash between Australia Women and South Africa Women. Both games will be played at the famous Old Trafford, Manchester. The action then shifts to Southampton for an exciting Group B clash as West Indies Women go up against New Zealand Women at The Rose Bowl to conclude the day. It all starts with the first ball of the first game, which is scheduled to be bowled at 9.30 am GMT, followed by non-stop cricketing action. But you can join us in advance for all the exciting pre-match buzz and buildup. Until then, take care, cheers!

9:19 PM IST England set the marker - Indeed, the hosts have made a strong statement with a resounding win over Sri Lanka. They bag two points and will head down south to prepare for their next assignment which will be against their neighbours, Ireland Women. That game will be played at The Rose Bowl. As far as Sri Lanka Women are concerned, they have some serious soul-searching to do and will aim to put on a much improved performance when they face the defending champions, New Zealand, in Southampton. Both these games will be played on Tuesday, 16th June.

9:15 PM IST ... Time to hear it from the captains ...

9:14 PM IST The captain of Sri Lanka Women - Chamari Athapaththu admits that they didn't play their best cricket today, and they failed to step up their game. Adds that their bowlers need to improve their line and length, especially their spinners. About their batting unit, she reckons that they have to play with positivity. But their effort today was not the best, and they have to perform better in the upcoming matches. Regarding their next game against New Zealand, she says that it's a tough game, but they need to execute their plan better in that match, and he hopes that they will bounce back from this result.