Danni Wyatt-Hodge lit up the opening night of the T20 World Cup with a sensational 105 not out as England began with a statement victory over Sri Lanka at Edgbaston.
Veteran opener Wyatt-Hodge, whose partner gave birth to their first child three weeks ago, celebrated by rocking her bat in her arms after racing to three figures in 61 balls.
She put on 135 for the first wicket with Amy Jones and when England’s wicketkeeper fell for 53 from 38 balls, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt continued the onslaught by hitting 46 not out from 22.
It took England to 219-1 – the highest score at a women’s T20 World Cup.
Sri Lank did not help themselves, dropping Jones twice and Sciver-Brunt once as well as leaking wides and no-balls, and were bowled out for 132.
Wyatt-Hodge also took a stunning steepling catch to dismiss Sri Lanka captain and key batter Chamari Athapaththu for four to cap a stunning all-round display, while 21-year-old left-armer Freya Kemp snuck in with 4-21 to seal the 87-run win.
It gave England a perfect start on a sunny night in Birmingham.
Ireland and Scotland enter on Saturday morning. England’s second match in Group 2 is on Tuesday against Ireland in Southampton.
Wyatt-Hodge rocks in Birmingham
Wyatt-Hodge was supposed to be short of form coming into this tournament.
Since making 29 on her return from parental leave on 30 May, she had returned single-figure scores in her other three innings.
This, though, was the 35-year-old at her supreme best.
The only chance she offered was a run-out opportunity in the sixth over. Sri Lanka missed their mark, as they did far too often in the first innings, and from there England’s opener took full advantage.
She scored all around Edgbaston but the highlights were her crashes through the off side. By the end, the only thing putting a third T20 century in doubt was Sciver-Brunt’s flogging of the bowling at the other end.
Whether by chance or design, Sciver-Brunt handed over the strike with two balls remaining and Wyatt-Hodge pulled behind square to reach her landmark.
As the right-hander beamed in celebration, she was lifted from her feet by Sciver-Brunt – another in this side who can relate to Wyatt-Hodge’s past month as a fellow mum and cricketer.