Jack Laugher made a successful start to his bid for a Commonwealth Games hat-trick as he won gold in the men's one-metre springboard on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old defended the title he won in Glasgow four years ago with a score of 438.00 here to take gold ahead of Australia's James Connor (412.45).

"It was difficult to come out here as defending champion, but I trusted myself and felt strong and confident," Laugher said.

Laugher will now look to follow up in the 3m springboard on Thursday, and in the 3m synchronised springboard in which he will compete alongside Chris Mears on Friday.

As Laugher took gold, Scotland could celebrate a silver for 20-year-old James Heatly - the nation's first diving medal since Heatly's grandfather Sir Peter Heatly won three gold medals in the 1950s.

There was silver for England's Alicia Blagg and Katherine Torrance in the women's synchronised three-metres springboard as Australia took gold.

Blagg won gold in the event four years ago with the now retired Rebecca Gallantree and placed on the podium once more as Esther Qin and Georgia Sheehan took gold.

Over at the Carrara Stadium, England's Dina Asher-Smith qualified for the women's 200m final, clocking a time of 22.44 to finish behind Jamaica's Shericka Jackson.

"You want to go and win the semi-final but I'm happy to have put down that time," Asher-Smith said. "You can ease off because you can get into a tear-up if you want to, but something in the back of my mind reminded me it was the semi-final."

Zharnel Hughes also reached the men's 200m final, winning his semi-final in 20.37s.

Scotland's Maria Lyle also took sliver in the T35 100m.

Lisa Whiteside booked a place in the boxing semi-finals and a guaranteed medal after scraping a split decision win over India's Pinki Rani in their women's flyweight bout.

The 32-year-old is a two-time world medallist but has been forced to wait for her chance on the big stage due to her former domestic rivalry with all-conquering Nicola Adams.

Whiteside said: "All I have been saying to myself both in the gym and in the ring is that it's definitely, finally my time.

"When they announced that it was a split decision tonight, I thought, I've been there, I've had horrible decisions in the past, and you start to worry. But I got the decision and all I intend to do now is move on and claim that gold."

Whiteside's team-mate Sandy Ryan will face Rosie Eccles of Wales in the women's 69kg final. Ryan edged Marie-Jeanne Parent of Canada while Eccles scored a career-best split decision win over home favourite Kaye Scott.

Scotland's David McMath won gold in the men's double trap shooting final, a result that made this Scotland's best performance in an overseas Games to date.

McMath set a Games record with a total of 74 - four ahead of nearest rival Tim Kneale from the Isle of Man who took silver.

England's Chris Gregory and Jake Sheaf will play for bronze in the beach volleyball on Thursday after a semi-final defeat to Australia.

The host nation prevailed 21-13 21-16 at Coolangatta beachfront, leaving England to face New Zealand after Canada booked the other final place.

Tracey Neville's England are through to the semi-finals of the netball after a first Commonwealth Games win over New Zealand put them top of Pool B.

England prevailed against the 2006 and 2010 champions 54-45.

PA