Eng Women vs SL Women Live: SL-W Choose to Bowl

BIRMINGHAM: Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and elected to field first against hosts England in the highly anticipated curtain-raiser of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Edgbaston.

Calling under a slightly overcast sky, Athapaththu had no hesitation in giving her bowlers first use of a fresh Birmingham surface. The Sri Lankan camp aims to exploit any early atmospheric moisture and lateral movement before the pitch settles into a true batting deck under the floodlights later in the evening. 

Sri Lanka fields a balanced side, heavily relying on their spin-heavy arsenal to choke the scoring rates once the initial seam threat subsides.

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt admitted she would have also preferred to bowl but expressed confidence in her batting unit's ability to set a formidable target. The tournament hosts enter the global showpiece with an aggressive blueprint, leaning on explosive openers to maximize the powerplay overs. 

Sciver-Brunt, leading the side with tactical acumen, confirmed that the English lineup features deep batting options structured precisely to absorb early setbacks. Ground curators at Edgbaston noted a light tinge of green on the track, which likely influenced Athapaththu's tactical decision. 

However, with true bounce expected, the outfield remains lightning-fast, promising a high-scoring spectacle for the sell-out crowd. As the opening ceremony concludes, the umpires are walking out, and the hosts are ready to launch their World Cup campaign with willow in hand.

England Women Playing XI

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones (wk), Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell

Sri Lanka Women Playing XI

Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Vishmi Gunaratne, Imesha Dulani, Hansima Karunaratne, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya

Watch Eng Women vs SL Women live on tapmad.