SOUTHERN Vipers bowler Lauren Bell picked up three wickets as England got their international summer off to a winning start against Pakistan on Saturday.

Bell was one of five Southern Vipers players, along with Charlie Dean, Maia Boucher, Freya Kemp, and Dannii Wyatt in the England side at Edgbaston.

Captain Heather Knight and Amy Jones contributed a fifth-wicket stand of 67 to help the hosts to 163 for six after their 20 overs.

The visitors were unable to get close to England's score and were bowled out for 110 to lose by 53 runs.

The hosts had to recover from being 11 for four early in their innings with Vipers duo Bouchier and Wyatt both out within the first two overs.

Dean picked up the wicket of Pakistan's Ameen to give the bowlers the best possible start as they looked to restrict their opponents.

The spin trio of Dean, Sarah Glenn, and Sophie Ecclestone twirled through the middle overs with excellent accuracy to put England in a match-winning position.

England's bowlers continued to dominate and the Pakistan innings was brought to an early end by Bell when she picked up the final wicket of Iqbal.

Daily Echo:

The three-match series continues at Northampton on Friday, while Southern Vipers start their Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign against Loughborough Lightning a day later.

Vipers bowler Linsey Smith is also in the England T20 squad and she featured in an ECB development side win against Pakistan on Thursday.

Speaking to BBC Sport, captain Heather Knight said: "I think if we are honest the scoreboard flattered us.

"We did some good things today but we were probably a little off the pace.

"It was desperation to get going, a big crowd, and trying to impose ourselves on the game. I wouldn't look too much into it, we want our players to be aggressive, just at the right time."

After the T20 series, England will then move on to the one-day series against Pakistan, starting on Thursday, May 23.