India and England enjoy winning starts on opening day of the ICC Women's World Cup 2009

Claire Taylor strokes century in England’s 100-run victory over Sri Lanka while Rumeli Dhar wins player of the match award against PakistanAt both the venues, a minute’s silence is observed out of respect for those people killed or injured during Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the convoy containing the Sri Lanka squad and the match officialsPhotos from the Canberra match available through Getty Images; images from Bowral match available free of charge from the ICC FTP site
India and England launched their ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 campaigns in style by registering comfortable victories over Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Bowral and Canberra on Saturday.

Claire Taylor, the top-ranked batter in the Reliance Mobile ICC Women’s ODI Player Rankings, stroked her eighth career century to set up an easy 100-run victory over Sri Lanka while India thumped Pakistan by 10 wickets after the girls in green shirts were sent packing for just 57 all out in 29 overs.

Before the start of both the matches, players and officials, together with the match officials and spectators, observed a minute’s silence out of respect for those people killed or injured during Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the convoy containing the Sri Lanka squad and the match officials in Lahore.

At Manuka Oval in Canberra, Taylor was in prime form when she clubbed 10 fours in a 95-ball 101 before falling to Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler Eshani Lokusooriya (2-41) in the 47th over. Taylor’s masterly innings helped England reach 277-5 in 50 overs after Shashikala Siriwardena had won the toss and put Charlotte Edwards’ side into bat.

Taylor, who scored her third consecutive hundred against Sri Lanka at a Women’s World Cup, featured in a 72-run second wicket partnership with Caroline Atkins (50) who scored a well played half century that came off 85 balls and included three fours. Atkins also featured in an 80-run opening wicket stand with Sarah Taylor (38 off 44 balls with three fours).

Later in the order, Lydia Greenway chipped in with a useful 32 not out off 45 balls while Edwards contributed a run-a-ball 27 to ensure England finished its innings on a high.

In its target chase, Sri Lanka made a confident start when it reached 48 without loss before it lost its way by losing three wickets for 15 runs to be reduced to 63-3. Hiruku Fernando (26) and Suwini de Alwis (37) tried to repair the damage and added 57 runs for the fourth wicket but that stand consumed nearly 12 overs which left the Siriwardena’s side with an uphill task against a disciplined England bowling.

With runs difficult to score, Sri Lanka ended well short of its target and closed on 177-7 off 50 overs.

For England, Laura Marsh was the pick of bowlers with figures of 3-32 but there was only one contender for the player of the match award which was Claire Taylor.

Taylor added: “I’m pleased to get some runs early in the tournament. The Sri Lankans must be sick of the sight of me but all due respect to them for keeping going in the field with the ball and attacking us with the bat.

“I’m looking forward to playing against India on Tuesday which I think could be the key match in our group.”

England head coach Mark Lane was also pleased with his team’s victory but admitted that his side have plenty of work to do if they are to win this event: “Claire Taylor played brilliantly today for us using all her cricket nouse and experience. The opening bowling lacked penetration and at times the fielding was lackluster.

“Although we accept the two points for the win we must show improvement in all three disciplines before we take on India on Tuesday.”

At Bradman Oval, in Bowral, India put up a clinical performance to rout Pakistan by 10 wickets without breaking sweat.

The Indian bowlers justified Jhulan Goswami’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss in front of a decent crowd and under overcast conditions by bowling Pakistan out for 57 in 29 overs. Sana Mir (17) and Bismah Maroof (11), apart from the 10 extras, were the only batters to reach the double figures.

The Indian bowlers, spearheaded by the captain herself, bowled to a teasing line and length and made full use of the early morning conditions. While Goswami picked up 1-18, her new ball partner Rumeli Dhar finished with figures of 8-5-7-3 while vice-captain Amita Sharma bagged 2-9. Priyanka Roy also made her presence felt by claiming 2-13 after being hit away for 11 runs in her opening over.

The target was never enough to test the India batters who achieved victory in 10 overs in bright sunshine. Anagha Deshpande and Anjum Chopra remained unbeaten on 26 and 17 respectively.

Goswami, reflecting on her team’s victory, said: “It was an important victory for us as it was the World Cup opener and against Pakistan. I am glad that we have started the tournament on a winning note and I look forward to improving our performance with every match.

“I never expected Pakistan to be bowled out for 57 but this reflects how well we utilised the conditions. We got a bit sloppy in the later part of Pakistan’s innings and I am not happy about that. We cannot afford to be complacent at any stage because no match is finished until the final bowl is bowled.”

Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz said: “I will not try to hide behind excuses. The simple fact is it was not a good day in the office for us and we performed poorly in all three departments of the game.

“The girls are really down after today’s performance and it would be difficult to lift their spirits but it’s a World Cup and we have to put this performance behind us and look forward to the next two matches.”

On Sunday, defending champion Australia will go head to head with New Zealand at North Sydney in the first of the seven matches that will be covered live by ICC’s board partner ESPN STAR Sports. In the other match of the day, the West Indies will meet qualifier South Africa in Newcastle with the winner most likely to go through to the Super Six stage along with Australia and New Zealand from group A.

Scores in brief:

At Manuka Oval, England 277-5 in 50 overs (Claire Taylor 101, Caroline Atkins 50, Sarah Taylor 38, Lydia Greenway 32 not out, Charlotte Edwards 27)
Sri Lanka 177-7 in 50 overs (Suwini de Alwis 37, Hiruku Fernando 26; Laura Marsh 3-32)
England won by 100 runs

At Bradman Oval, Pakistan 57 all out in 29 overs (Rumeli Dhar 3-7, Amita Sharma 2-9, Priyanka Roy 2-13)
India 57-0 in 10 overs (Anagha Deshpande 26 not out)
India won by 10 wickets

**Fixtures for Sunday:**Australia v New Zealand, North Sydney
West Indies v South Africa, Newcastle

Photos of the England and Sri Lanka match are available through Getty Images.

To download free images from India and Pakistan match, users need to go to http://iccfiles.sportcentric.org/ , click ICC WWC 09 folder, go to Pak v Ind Mar 7 folder and click on the required image to download.

Images are for editorial use only and are copyright of the ICC.

The event logo, high quality audio interviews and more details on the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 can be found at:iccevents.yahoo.com