Centurions pave way for England

CRICKET: Openers Tammy Beaumont and Danni Wyatt hit one-day international hundreds as England made a winning start against Pakistan in Malaysia.

The pair shared a firstwicket stand of 188 to set up a 75-run victory at Kuala Lumpur’s Kinrara Oval, the opening game of an ICC Women’s Championship series featuring three ODIs and three Twenty20s.

Beaumont struck nine fours in her 107 off 141 balls before becoming one of Rameen Shamim’s three victims.

Wyatt was the more aggressive of the pair, striking 12 fours and three sixes in a majestic 95-ball 110 to claim the player of the match award.

Captain Heather Knight chipped in with 41 from 44 balls as England, determined to bounce back from last summer’s Ashes series defeat to Australia, posted 284-6 from 50 overs.

Pakistan slumped to 5-2 as Anya Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt removed openers Nahida Khan and Sidra Ameen inside the opening three overs.

Captain Bismah Maroof made 69 off 94 balls, but Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals and were always behind the required run rate.

Kate Cross took the crucial wickets of Bismah and Aliya Riaz (39) and finished with 4-32 from seven overs. Rain briefly interrupted play, but Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 209 from 44.4 overs.

Seamer Brunt (2-31) and leg-spinner Sarah Glenn (2-38) offered excellent support.