Women's World Twenty20: Edwards plays a captain's innings to outclass India

India 112 England 113-0 (England won by 10 wickets)

England made the perfect start to their campaign to claim the inaugural women's World Twenty20 with a simple 10-wicket victory over an outclassed India at Taunton yesterday. Charlotte Edwards's side, led by the captain who produced the day's top score, won with 26 balls to spare to underline their standing as favourites.

Edwards has already led England to the 50-over World Cup and they are the favourites to do the "double", a status that yesterday's win can only have enhanced. Edwards made an unbeaten 61, facing just 53 balls and hitting eight boundaries, two of them sixes. She shared an unbroken opening partnership with Sarah Taylor, the side's wicketkeeper, who made her second Twenty20 half-century, scoring exactly 50 from 41 balls from seven fours.

Edwards was man of the match for her decisive innings to add to the wicket of Mithali Raj, India's top scorer with 29, and a couple of catches. India could not cope with the home side's attack. Apart from Raj, only Anjuna Chopra and Sulakshana Naik reached double figures.

Holly Colvin was the pick of England's attack, the 19-year-old Sussex slow left armer finishing with 3 for 20 from her four overs. There were also two wickets for Nicky Shaw's medium pace.

In yesterday's other game, also at Taunton, West Indies held their nerve to win a tight encounter with South Africa by two wickets.