Rain Rescues England and Shatters Pakistani Team Hopes of Landmark Win
Pakistan narrowly missed out on their first limited-overs win facing the English team in Colombo midweek, getting to an unbeaten 34 chasing a DLS-adjusted target totaling 113 runs before heavy rainfall curtailed their chances to achieve a milestone.
England's Batting Collapse
The English batting lineup has lurched from crisis to crisis in this tournament – they needed rescuing by Heather Knight facing Bangladesh with Nat Sciver-Brunt's contribution against Sri Lanka – on this occasion it appeared that their vulnerabilities would return to haunt them, as their innings fell apart to 79 for seven during the first 25 overs.
Showers and Resumption
Following an early weather interruption lasting nearly four hours, England came back to add 54 further runs – yet the Pakistani openers the duo of Ali and Sohail looked to be making short work the pursuit, helped by the absence of the English team's primary attackers Bell and Ecclestone through illness. Only further rain spared England embarrassment.
"The Pakistani bowlers performed superbly and made it really hard for us to gain any momentum in the game,” the English skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt told Sky Sports. "Our performance was insufficient and we’ll hold our hands up. All players are training excellently and I guess it’s about finding a way to do that in games.”
Championship Ramifications
The no-result means that The English team continues their path to advance to the semifinals if they manage to win any of their last three group-stage encounters facing India, Australia and New Zealand.
Playing Surface and Bowling Excellence
This tournament has so far been a spinner’s paradise, but here it was prodigious swing that created issues for England's top batsmen, following heavy rain a day before that canceled the second half of the Sri Lankan contest with New Zealand. The youthful Pakistani skipper Sana bowled an outstanding spell with figures of 5-1-19-3, comprising a wicket-taking maiden first up, bowling Amy Jones between bat and pad with an inswinger.
Crucial Instances and Review System
Knight once again saved herself through a well-timed DRS review versus Sana that was going past leg stump, however the Pakistan captain to claim two scalps in the following over with two further hooping deliveries – including one that the captain deflected onto the stumps, and a second which hit Knight right in front.
Before this, Tammy Beaumont had opted not to play facing Diana Baig and was bowled by a delivery that came back which hit the top of her wicket, and it was the left-arm bowling by Sadia Iqbal which did for Dunkley and Lamb.
Event Planning Issues
Concerns could surface concerning the determination to stage half of the World Cup in Colombo during monsoon season, since this represents the third canceled match at the venue – but England will simply breathe a sigh of relief as they progress to the Indore venue.
