Amy Pharaoh and Sian Honnor got their women’s pairs campaign off to the perfect start with a hard-fought win over Namibia.

The experienced bowls pair, who are both competing at a fifth Commonwealth Games, were pushed all the way by Amanda Steenkamp and Diana Viljoen but held their nerve to open with a win.

It capped a brilliant 24 hours for Honnor, who was named Team England’s flagbearer for the opening ceremony.

Honnor said: “It's been a lot, but in a wonderful way. It's a bit strange, obviously, playing our first game before the opening ceremony, but that's why it was extra important for us to go out and get that win.

“There were points there where we had to dig in and draw upon our experience, and they will come up again. It's about pulling together and working as a team.”

Both players are experienced hands when it comes to Commonwealth Games but Pharaoh admitted there were still plenty of pre-match nerves as they adapt to the indoor format of the game.

She said: “There was definitely a lot of adrenaline flying around there, which obviously isn't very good but after the first few ends, we settled down and we did what we needed to do. We've worked really hard to make it work and to try and give ourselves the best chance.

“I think that probably showed a little bit today, the experience that we've gained over the last few months playing this format, playing together and playing bowls over the summer. Hopefully it pays off.”

Team-mate Sam Tolchard was unable to follow suit in the men’s singles, as he lost out in a tie-break to Fiji’s Rajnesh Prasad, after both won a set apiece.

Tolchard was pegged back 8-3 early on but fought back to take the second 7-6 but ultimately lost in a one-end decider.

He said: “He is a good player. The first set was pretty tight. I had a couple of really good ends in the first set and that's where it looked like I was going to score threes and fours.

“He played one huge conversion bowl twice, which swung 12 shots with two bowls. You've got to suck it up and come again.

“I think the way the first set went was disappointing because I played some really good ends there and came out of it pretty negatively.

“But I stuck at it and played a pretty solid second set. Then in the tie-break, it was an inch the other way again. It's nice to get one out of the way. You'd love to go straight back on right now but it'd be nice if I didn't need to.”