Winning Starts For England And Australia

England Make Winning Start By Beating Pakistan

Laura Marsh hit a brisk half-century to set up England's win over Pakistan

©REUTERS / Action Images

Group A of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 is underway with wins for favourites Australia and England, beating India and Pakistan respectively.

England got their campaign off to a winning start, comfortably beating Pakistan by 43 runs while Australia beat India by eight wickets. Scorecard

2009 champions England proved too strong as they dismissed Pakistan for 90. They had posted 133 for six, fading slightly after a strong start but their score was enough thanks to a career-best haul of four for nine from Holly Colvin and a brace from Danielle Hazell.

Laura Marsh scored 54 in 41 balls and Charlotte Edwards made 45 in 43 as their opening stand put on 102 in 13.1 overs. Both players were subsequently run out and England lost six wickets for 31 runs, Sana Mir emerging as the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with two for 20.

England interrupted Pakistan's run chase by taking wickets frequently - to the effect that the highest partnership in the reply was just 26.

Javeria Khan top scored with 23 and Colvin finished off the innings in short order by dismissing Javeria, Nida Dar (5), Marina Iqbal (1) and Sadia Yousuf (1). Only three other players could reach double figures.

Meanwhile, Australia eased to a victory target of 105 with almost three overs to spare against India, who posted a modest score of 104 for eight. Scorecard

Several players made starts but they were grounded by a fine performance in the field from Australia, for whom Erin Osborne returned three for 13 and Julie Hunter two for 23.

There was also a wicket for Lisa Sthalekar and Jess Jonassen and opener Poonam Raut top scored with 21.

Australian openers Meg Lanning (39) and Alyssa Healy (21) quickly added 43 for the first wicket and after they were dismissed by Jhulan Goswami and Amita Sharma respectively, Australia were guided home by Jess Cameron (36 not out) and Sthalekar (3 not out).

Sri Lanka have been forced to make a change to their squad due to illness. 26-year-old right-hander Yasoda Mendis comes in for Nilakshi de Silva.

© Cricket World 2012