🔗 Share this article

Pakistan narrowly missed out on their first one-day international victory versus the English side in Colombo on Wednesday, reaching 34 runs without losing a wicket in pursuit of a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern goal of 113 ahead of pouring rain halted their chances to achieve a milestone.

England's Batting Collapse

England’s batting has stumbled from one disaster to another in this tournament – they needed rescuing through Heather Knight's efforts against Bangladesh and by Nat Sciver-Brunt when playing Sri Lanka – in this match it appeared that their vulnerabilities would return to haunt them, as their innings fell apart to 79 for seven within the initial 25 overs.

Weather Interruptions and Comeback

Postponed first by rain lasting nearly four hours, England came back to add 54 further runs – but Pakistan’s openers Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail appeared to be cruising the target, assisted by the unavailability of England’s key strike bowlers Bell and Ecclestone through illness. Only additional rainfall saved England’s blushes.

"The Pakistani bowlers performed superbly and created significant difficulties for us to get into the game at all,” the English skipper Sciver-Brunt told Sky Sports. “We weren’t good enough and we accept responsibility. All players are training excellently and perhaps it's a matter of finding a way to transfer that to matches.”

Competition Consequences

The abandoned match indicates that England stay on track to progress to the semi-finals if they manage to win one of their final three preliminary games versus India, Australia and New Zealand.

Playing Surface and Bowling Excellence

This tournament has so far been a haven for spinners, however in this match it was significant swing which caused problems to the England top order, after massive rainfall a day before which washed out the second half of Sri Lanka’s match against New Zealand. Pakistan’s young captain Fatima Sana delivered an outstanding spell recording 5 overs, 1 maiden, 19 runs, 3 wickets, featuring a maiden over with a wicket initially, getting Amy Jones out between bat and pad using an inswinging delivery.

Key Moments and DRS Drama

Heather Knight again rescued herself using a prompt Decision Review System appeal facing Sana which was missing leg stump, only for the Pakistan captain to take two wickets during the subsequent over using two additional curving deliveries – one which Sciver-Brunt edged onto to her stumps, and another that hit Knight right in front.

Before this, The English opener had left the ball to Diana Baig and was bowled by a delivery that came back that grazed the top of her wicket, while it was the left-arm bowling of Sadia Iqbal which did for Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb.

Event Planning Issues

Concerns could surface concerning the determination to organize a portion of the tournament in the Colombo venue during monsoon season, since this represents the third canceled match at the ground – but England will simply breathe a sigh of relief as they progress toward their next match in Indore.