In a dramatic turn of events at the Women’s World Cup in Colombo, torrential rain thwarted Pakistan’s historic attempt to secure their first-ever one-day international win over England. Despite a strong start in their chase of a DLS-adjusted target of 113, rain led to the abandonment of the match, leaving England relieved and Pakistan’s hopes dashed.
The match, initially delayed by nearly four hours due to rain, saw England struggle with the bat, once again facing a collapse in the early overs. England’s batting woes continued as they slumped to 79 for 7 in the first 25 overs, once again failing to find a solid footing. The underperformance of their top-order, including Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver-Brunt, left them dependent on Heather Knight for any semblance of stability. Sciver-Brunt later admitted that England “weren’t good enough” and credited Pakistan’s bowlers for making the contest extremely challenging.
Pakistan’s bowlers, especially captain Fatima Sana, were exceptional. Sana’s spell of 5-1-19-3 included a wicket maiden, which saw Amy Jones bowled through the gate with an inswinger. She continued to wreak havoc with two more dismissals in her next over. Despite the early breakthroughs, England managed to post a total of 133-9 in their 50 overs.
However, the rain was the decisive factor, with Pakistan’s chase interrupted. At the time of the abandonment, Pakistan were 34 without loss, with Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail looking set to make significant progress. This late rally from Pakistan, assisted by the absence of England’s key bowlers, Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone, was cut short by the weather.
This no-result leaves England with a slim chance of avoiding an early exit, requiring them to win at least one of their final three group-stage games against India, Australia, and New Zealand. As the tournament heads to Indore, England will hope that the rain does not continue to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of their matches.
The decision to host part of the tournament in Colombo during the monsoon season has come under scrutiny, with this being the third washout at the ground. The rain’s intervention, however, offered England a lifeline as they prepare for their remaining fixtures.
