England and holders Australia produce statement wins 

England's batters made light of a potentially challenging target to secure a seven-wicket win against the West Indies in their Women's T20 World Cup match at Boland Park in Paarl, while Australia stamped their authority over neighbours New Zealand in a huge 93-run victory in the day's second fixture at the same venue, on Saturday.

Set to make 136 to win, England raced to victory with 5.3 overs to spare.

Opener Sophia Dunkley set the tone, pounding 34 off 18 balls before Nat Sciver-Brunt (40 not out) and captain Heather Knight (32 not out) completed the win with an unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership of 67 off 43 balls.

"We want to be fearless and take the game on – and entertain as well," said Knight.

West Indies chose to bat in scorching heat of up to 38 degrees Celsius. They posted 135 for seven with captain Hayley Matthews hitting 42 off 32 balls, including eight fours.

Matthews dominated an opening stand of 47 with fit-again Stafanie Taylor, who made only three.

Shemaine Campbelle also batted brightly in making 34 off 37 as the England bowlers and fielders toiled in the heat.

Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone was England's most successful bowler, taking three for 23, with two of her wickets falling in the penultimate over as batters attempted ambitious strokes.

Aussies justify holders tag 

New Zealand only had the first over going for them as Lea Tahuhu got opener Mooney out. But once star wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy (55 off 38) got going with skipper Meg Lanning (41 off 33) and later Ellyse Perry (40 off 22), it was a one-way street with how the game was going to pan out eventually. 

The Aussies ended up throwing a daunting target for the Kiwis as they ended up on 173 for nine in 20 overs. Tahuhu and star leg-spinner Amelia Kerr each picked up three wickets -- the latter was the only bowler to have conceded less than six runs per over as well.

In reply, New Zealand got off to the worst possible start in the first over as both openers departed for a golden duck, dismissed by fast bowler Megan Schutt.

The pressure of a huge target got to chasing side and apart from Bernardine Bezuidenhout (14), Kerr -- who shone with the bat as well with innings-highest 21 -- and her elder sister Jess Kerr (10), none of the New Zealand batters could register double digits.

Ashleigh Gardner starred with the ball for Australia as she cleaned up the tail to pick a fifer for 12 runs in three overs.