🔗 Share this article

Pakistan narrowly missed out on their inaugural one-day international victory against England in Colombo midweek, getting to 34 without loss going after a DLS-adjusted target set at 113 before torrential downpours halted their hopes to achieve a milestone.

England's Batting Collapse

England's offensive play has lurched from crisis to crisis throughout this World Cup – they had to be bailed out through Heather Knight's efforts versus Bangladesh and Nat Sciver-Brunt's performance when playing Sri Lanka – and here it appeared that their weaknesses would plague them again, as their innings fell apart to 79 runs with seven wickets down within the initial 25 overs.

Showers and Resumption

After an initial rain delay for about four hours, The English side resumed to score another 54 runs – however, Pakistan's opening pair Ali and Sohail seemed to be handling easily of the chase, helped by the absence of England’s key strike bowlers Bell and Ecclestone through illness. Only further rain spared England embarrassment.

"Pakistan delivered exceptional bowling and posed serious challenges for us to gain any momentum in the game,” the England captain Sciver-Brunt told Sky Sports. “We weren’t good enough and we’ll hold our hands up. All players are training excellently and perhaps it's a matter of finding a way to transfer that to matches.”

Tournament Implications

The no-result means that The English team continues their path to progress to the semi-finals if they manage to win any of their last three group-stage encounters facing India, Australia and New Zealand.

Ground State and Bowling Performance

This competition has so far been a haven for spinners, yet on this occasion it was significant swing which caused problems for England's top batsmen, following heavy rain 24 hours earlier which washed out the second half of the Sri Lankan contest against New Zealand. The youthful Pakistani skipper Sana bowled a remarkable 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 with an inswinger.

Crucial Instances and Review System

Knight once more preserved her wicket through a well-timed DRS review facing Sana that would have missed the leg stump, but then the Pakistani skipper to claim two scalps in the next over using two additional curving deliveries – including one that Sciver-Brunt edged onto the stumps, and a subsequent delivery that struck Knight plumb in front.

Previously, Tammy Beaumont had opted not to play against Diana Baig and was bowled by a delivery that came back which clipped the top of her wicket, and it was the spin from the left side from Sadia Iqbal which did for Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb.

Event Planning Issues

Doubts might emerge concerning the determination to stage half of the World Cup in the Colombo venue amid the wet period, considering this is the third canceled match on this pitch – however England will merely breathe a sigh of relief as they move on to Indore.