Australia's bowlers had England on the rack mid-innings

All four matches, including England versus Australia, fell victim to rain on day one of the Women's World Cup.

England managed to fit their innings in and posted a thin-looking 169-7, but the Aussies did not start their reply with each team gaining three points.

The innings began well with Laura Newton and Charlotte Edwards getting starts, but the middle-order collapsed.

Newton (caught for 31) and Edwards (lbw for 26) put on 44 together in Centurion before both falling to Julie Hayes.

And England's innings began to lose its way when skipper Clare Connor was bowled by Katherine Blackwell for a duck.

South Africa posted a 200-plus score before the showers came

The in-form Claire Taylor got a start by reaching 24 off 44 balls before falling to Karen Rolton.

She departed in the middle of another flury of wickets as Lydia Greenway (11) and Rosalie Birch (eight) both failed.

Jenny Gunn and Nicki Shaw were left with plenty to do to make the match competitive but while Gunn adopted a positive outlook in making 40 not out off 50 balls, Shaw needed 56 balls for her 17.

The pair put on 41 unbroken runs together for the seventh wicket, which may or may not have been enough to keep tournament favourites Australia at bay.

Afterwards, 18-year-old Gunn said: "It was great to be out there and to get a few runs against Australia - especially as I am more of a bowler - was brilliant.

We've got three point now - it's a good start against Australia Jenny Gunn

"From the first ball I just couldn't stop smiling. There was no pressure on us to do anything today.

"I expected more banter from the Australian players but they were quite quiet."

"It was disappointing that we collapsed in the middle of our innings but we've got three point nows and it's a good start against Australia."

Elsewhere on day one, hosts South Africa posted 204-7 at Centurion but Ireland were not able to start their reply.

Other grounds in Pretoria saw New Zealand make 178-7 against West Indies, and India bowl Sri Lanka out for 116 before reaching 4-0 when the rain came.

England Women: CM Edwards, LK Newton, CE Taylor, CJ Connor (capt), L Greenway,RA Birch, NJ Shaw, JL Gunn, J Smit, KH Brunt, LC Pearson.

Australia Women: BJ Clark (capt), KL Rolton, LM Keightley, LC Sthalekar, M Jones, AJ Blackwell, CL Fitzpatrick, J Hayes, JC Price, LC Broadfoot, CR Smith, KA Blackwell, S Nitschke, E Liddell.