England could not have asked for a more flawless start to their home World Cup, making them the clear favorites heading into this contest. They absolutely dismantled Sri Lanka in their first match, powered by a spectacular, unbeaten 105 from Danni Wyatt-Hodge and a lethal 4-wicket haul from Freya Kemp that completely broke the opposition’s back. Ireland, conversely, had a disappointing opening outing against Scotland, where they allowed the Scots to post 161. Despite a steady 39 from opener Amy Hunter and a hard-fought 3-wicket effort from Ava Canning, the Irish batting lineup collapsed under pressure, leaving them plenty of issues to fix.
Squads:
England Women’s Cricket Team
Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Charlie Dean, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong and Danni Wyatt-Hodge
Ireland Women’s Cricket Team
Gaby Lewis (C), Amy Hunter, Rebecca Stokell, Orla Prendergast, Arlene Kelly, Leah Paul, Alice Tector, Louise Little, Coulter Reilly, Ava Canning, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Georgina Dempsey, Alana Dalzell, Aimee Maguire
Players to watch out:
Danni Wyatt-Hodge
Danni Wyatt-Hodge played an absolute blinder of an innings for England, ripping the opposition bowling attack apart. She stayed out there until the very end, smashing an unbeaten 105 runs off just 62 deliveries to score a magnificent century. Her explosive knock was lit up by 13 boundaries and a six, powering her along at a strike rate of 169.35.
Amy Hunter
Opening or stabilizing the top order for Ireland, Amy Hunter played a useful part with a quick-fire contribution. She managed to score 39 runs off 36 balls before her innings came to an end. She kept the scoreboard ticking with 5 boundaries, concluding her time at the crease with a strike rate of 108.33.
Freya Kemp
Freya Kemp turned in an exceptional, match-defining bowling spell for England. She ripped through the batting lineup to scalp 4 wickets while giving away only 22 runs in her full quota of 4.0 overs. Maintaining a fantastic economy rate of 5.50, her brilliant spell left her with a stellar bowling average of 5.50 for the match.
Ava Canning
Ava Canning put in a gritty and highly effective shift with the ball for Ireland. She completed her full 4.0 overs and proved to be an essential wicket-taking threat, snapping up 3 wickets for 27 runs. Despite operating at an economy rate of 6.75, her knack for finding breakthroughs gave her an impressive bowling average of 9.00.
Pitch:
The surface at The Rose Bowl is fundamentally a true batting track that offers good bounce and carry, giving stroke-makers plenty of freedom to play their shots once they get settled. However, morning moisture and overcast skies are highly likely to hand a distinct advantage to the seamers.
Weather:
The daytime weather will be mostly cloudy with a high temperature of 22°C and a low of 15°C. There is a minimal 10% chance of rain during the day, accompanied by a 11 mph breeze coming from the west, while humidity is expected to sit at 68%.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Nat Sciver-Brunt, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Freya Kemp, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Gaby Lewis, Amy Hunter, Orla Prendergast, Coulter Reilly, Ava Canning
Match Details:
Date – June 16, 2026
Time – 11:00 PM IST
Venue – Rose Bowl, Southampton, England
Broadcast – Star Sports & Jio Hotstar
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