England made a strong start, beating Sri Lanka by 87 runs after posting 219/1. Danni Wyatt-Hodge reached her hundred in 60 balls on her eighth T20 World Cup appearance, finishing on 105 not out with 13 fours and a six. Amy Jones added 53 off 38 in the powerplay and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt struck 46 off 22 at the end.
England barely needed their middle order, but Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp and Sophia Dunkley, who has 241 runs in her last nine innings, give the lineup depth. Kemp took 4/22 with a double-wicket maiden, Charlie Dean (2/18) and Sophie Ecclestone (2/27) controlled the middle overs, and Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith backed them up.
Ireland started with a defeat by Scotland, undone by a fragile top order and few wicket-taking threats. Hunter made 39 off 36, Orla Prendergast 33 off 23, and captain Gaby Lewis fell for 11. Lewis, who made 276 runs in the global qualifier, remains the key, while Arlene Kelly has 13 wickets in ten T20Is at 6.12 and Lara McBride should be fit after a minor niggle. They will need an almost perfect bowling performance to trouble England.
