Jenny Gunn’s international-best 5-22, including her 100th one-day international wicket, condemned Pakistan women to a 111-run defeat at Louth, Lincolnshire, in the first of two 50-over games.
Gunn’s opening victim was the tourists’ top-scorer Javeria Khan, for 39. The seamer then proceeded to demolish the rest of the order - her third victim Bismah Maroof was the landmark breakthrough - and bettered her previous finest figures of 5-31, which also came in an ODI, as the tourists slumped from 101 for two to 116 all out.
Home captain Charlotte Edwards, who chose to bat first, had typically underpinned England’s innings with 83 from the top of the order. She put on 112 for the first wicket with Arran Brindle, who hit 55 before Lydia Greenway made 38 not out of 227 for seven.
Edwards and Brindle set the tone in England’s first game since their third-placed World Cup finish during February. They were not parted until the 31st over when Sadia Yousuf had the latter stumped for the first of three wickets - the second of which was Sarah Taylor for 16 and the last Heather Knight for 16.
Between times Danni Wyatt went cheaply and Edwards was bowled by Sumaiya Siddiqi. Although debutant Lauren Winfield and Natalie Sciver made little impact with the bat, Greenway showed her experience with her runs occupying just 29 balls.
Javeria Khan and Nahida Khan shared an opening stand worth 52 for Pakistan but, after the latter was run out and Nain Abidi fell for nought, Gunn removed the former. She struck again later in the over by having Nida Dar stumped for a duck.
Once Sana Mir was caught behind off the miserly Danni Hazell for nought, Gunn made it four wickets in two overs by having Maroof caught behind and Batool Fatima lbw. Qanita Jalil was her fifth wicket shortly before Pakistan were dismissed in the 42nd over with eight tourists scoring four or less.
Gunn said: "I was really pleased today; I think we set the tone and personally it felt good to bowl. We were confident of defending our total but knew we had to bowl to our plans and we broke through at the right time to slow them down.
"I was pleased to be bowling again and to come on, take wickets and to contribute to the team; it's always nice to take a five-for."
The sides meet again on Wednesday at Loughborough.