Taylor fell one short of her best score, also hit against Sri Lanka

Claire Taylor struck a brilliant century in Pretoria to put England on the path to a thumping 214-run win over Sri Lanka at the Women's World Cup.

Taylor hit 136 off 128 balls, including 11 fours and a six, with Charlotte Edwards and Clare Connor striking fifties as England posted 284-4.

The reply was killed off after 26 overs with no Sri Lankan getting into double figures, but England conceded 38 wides.

Lucy Pearson and Jenny Gunn took three wickets each in the one-sided contest.

England's innings started badly after they had won the toss, with Laura Newton falling lbw to Praba Udawatte for three.

Udawatte (3-38) was the pick of eight bowlers used, but she had no support and two century stands quickly put England in the ascendancy.

Jan Brittin was a very special player and it is a privilege to head the record table with someone like that Charlotte Edwards on breaking the England run-scoring record More England reaction

Taylor put on 128 runs with Edwards, who hit eight fours in her 100-ball 63 before falling to a catch off Priyanga de Alwis (1-45).

Edwards' total saw her become England's leading one-day scorer with 2,178 runs, eclipsing Jan Brittin's record of 2,121 from 63 matches.

A third-wicket partnership of 119 followed, with Taylor within sniffing distance of her personal best when offering Udawatte a return catch.

Taylor's second one-day ton fell one run short of the score she hit against the same team at the last World Cup.

Connor, who started the tournament with a duck against Australia on Tuesday, notched her fourth one-day fifty before following Taylor back to the dressing room nine runs later.

Sri Lanka, who managed just 116 against India on the opening day, were never expected to get near England's formidable total, and so it proved.

Pearson (3-23) struck in the first over, and she combined with Gunn (3-28) to have Sri Lanka 47-6 in the ninth over.

Isa Guha, in the team for Katherine Brunt, chipped in with a wicket before Rosalie Birch claimed two scalps, including top-scorer Udawatte for eight.

The concession of so many wides will be the only concern to England coach Richard Bates in what was an otherwise fine display.

England Women: C M Edwards, L K Newton, S C Taylor, C J Connor, L Greenway, A Brindle, R A Birch, J L Gunn, J Smit, I T Guha, L C Pearson.