Pamela Cookey
Former England shooter

Jess Thirlby will be really pleased with the first half. I thought that was really strong, really clinical, it was really direct. The third quarter they’ll really be looking at, because Malawi were able to come in and draw it.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at NEC Arena

A comfortable victory for an improving England in the netball.

But it's given coach Jess Thirlby a lot to think about. The combination of Jo Harten and Helen Housby in the shooting circle - an essential component in England's 2018 gold-medal win - doesn't seem to do it anymore.

The Roses will need to find their best before facing New Zealand in the group stage and tougher tasks to come should they make the semi-finals.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at NEC Arena

England's Eleanor Cardwell and Helen Housby are working much better as a shooting combination at the netball.

Cardwell and Jo Harten were even stronger in the first half. The common theme?

Manchester Thunder shooter Cardwell, who will join Adelaide Thunderbirds next season, has surely played her way into a starting bib on her first Commonwealths start.

About one minute to go and England are on track for a second group-game win as the crowd chants the team's name.

Welsh marathon runner Clara Evans says this year's marathon course in Birmingham was the hardest she's ever run.

Evans finished ninth on the hilly Birmingham route, coming home as the first finisher of the home nations.

England's Georgina Schwiening came 11th, with Welsh record holder Natasha Cockram finishing 12th.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at NEC Arena

Yes Eboni Usoro-Brown!

The veteran defender, returning to Commonwealths netball action for the first time since becoming a mum, is all over the Malawi attackers and wins back the ball in the circle.

England continue to pull away in this final quarter and now lead 58-37.

Kerri Pottharst
Australian Olympic beach volleyball gold medallist

A valiant effort from the men in yellow and one of the smallest countries in the world, but they couldn't keep that standard going because the Bello brothers came out without the nerves and really playing great beach volleyball.

The beach volleyball and netball events are the place to be in Birmingham at the moment.

Classic tunes are being blasted out for the fans at every opportunity.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at NEC Arena

The crowd have regained their volume as England show some glimpses of their first-half brilliance in this final quarter of the netball.

Layla Guscoth grabs an interception, then Laura Malcolm does the same to put the Roses firmly back on top.

If they stay ahead, this will be their second group-game victory in two days as they seek a top-two finish to make the semi-finals.

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Smithfield

A Tuvalu serve flies long to put the match to bed and set England off on a winning start to their pool campaign. Cyprus and New Zealand are the other two teams in England's group.

They soak up the applause before the arena DJ throws on a fine slice of two-step and the rain starts to fall...

Pamela Cookey
Former England shooter

Remember, this is Malawi’s first game of the competition. England got the opportunity to play yesterday and start to get a grip of it. So we’ll see Malawi continually grow… which we’ve seen in this game alone!

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at NEC Arena

Another new combination in the shooting circle for England.

This time, Eleanor Cardwell is at goal shooter, replacing Jo Harten, and Helen Housby stays at goal attack.

It's all change at the defensive end too. Imogen Allison is on at wing defence, Layla Guscoth comes back in at goal defence and Eboni Usoro-Brown is goal keeper.

England's Johnboy Smith called the marathon route "brutal" after winning this morning's T53/54 Wheelchair event, but now that the dust has settled and a couple of celebratory drinks (might) have been consumed, the organisers want to say a big 'thank you' to all the supporters that came out to cheer on the athletes early on a Saturday morning.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at NEC Arena

A solid end to the third quarter of the netball ensures England weren't outscored by Malawi in that last 15 minutes.

In the end it's 13-13 for the quarter and 48-33 overall.

It will be interesting to see if coach Jess Thirlby makes any changes for the final 15. England's shooting combination doesn't seem to be working at the moment.

We could be in for a very big score with Australia women already 7-0 up against Kenya in the third quarter of their Pool B match.

Shanea Tonkin and Kaitlin Nobbs have both scored twice with around 20 minutes of the game still to play.

Image source, Getty Images

England beat Bangladesh 3-0 to finish the men's team table tennis group stage unbeaten ahead of the quarter-finals on Sunday.

“It has not been the hardest of groups," said England's Liam Pitchford who beat Bangladesh's Mohutasin Ridoy 3-0 (11-3, 11-8, 11-3) this morning.

"But we got the wins and we know tomorrow is going to be a different challenge and we need to be ready from the go.

“From the first match we need to be focused and in the game but I think we are all in good shape and we will see what happens tomorrow.”

Tuvalu has a population just a little less than 12,000.

Ampex Isaac and Saaga Malosa are part of a team of just five.

They are battling the numbers on the scoreboard as well.

England are four points from victory.

Becky Grey
BBC Sport at NEC Arena

If England netball coach Jess Thirlby had questions about her strongest starting seven, this group game has answered them.

Stacey Francis-Bayman looked much better suited to wing defence to goal defence, where she is playing now.

And Helen Housby and Jo Harten are not combining nearly as well in the shooting circle as Harten and Cardwell did earlier.

Malawi lead this third quarter 12-10, but England have a 45-32 lead overall.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier England women beat Nigeria 3-2 to progress to the table tennis women's team quarter-finals where they'll be up against Wales this evening 18:30 BST.

Twenty-year-old Charlotte Bardsley won the deciding singles 3-2 (6-11, 11-7, 11-8, 3-11, 11-9) against Ajoke Ojomu.

“I didn’t feel anything, not nervous," said Bardsley

"I was just playing, I was like, ‘It’s my serve, I know what I need to do - just do it and then whatever happens, happens.'

“I wasn’t thinking about the pressure, I was just in the moment.”

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Smithfield

You can tell how strong these volleyball players are, by comparing them to the line judges.

As the players move around court, they seem to bounce off the sand like it is a sprung dance floor. The officials look like they are wearing lead-lined wellies as the clump around fixing tape and mending dents.

England well on top as they look for the second set and the early kill.

Pamela Cookey
Former England shooter

I’m just not sure, I know it’s early stages of this competition, but the Jo Harten and Helen Housby combination doesn’t seem to be quite clicking.