Rain Saves England At Women’s World Cup And Ruins Pakistan Hopes Of Historic Win

Pakistan came agonisingly adjacent to their first one-day world triumph against England successful Colombo connected Wednesday, reaching 34 without nonaccomplishment successful pursuit of a DLS-adjusted target of 113 earlier torrential downpours curtailed their hopes of making history.

England’s batting has lurched from 1 disaster to different during this World Cup – they had to beryllium bailed retired by Heather Knight against Bangladesh and by Nat Sciver-Brunt against Sri Lanka – and present it looked for illustration their frailties would return to haunt them, arsenic they collapsed to 79 for 7 successful nan opening 25 overs.

After an first rainfall hold of almost 4 hours, England returned to adhd 54 further runs – but Pakistan’s openers Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail looked to beryllium making short activity of nan chase, assisted by nan absence of England’s cardinal onslaught bowlers Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone done illness. Only further rainfall saved England’s blushes.

“Pakistan bowled brilliantly and made it really difficult for america to get into nan crippled astatine all,” nan England captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, told Sky Sports. “We weren’t bully capable and we’ll clasp our hands up. Everyone’s practising really good and I conjecture it’s astir uncovering a measurement to do that successful games.”

The no-result intends that England stay connected people to advancement to nan semi-finals arsenic agelong arsenic they triumph 1 of their last 3 group-stage encounters against India, Australia and New Zealand.

This tourney has truthful acold been a spinner’s paradise, but present it was prodigious plaything which caused problems to nan England apical order, aft monolithic rainfall 24 hours earlier which washed retired nan 2nd half of Sri Lanka’s lucifer against New Zealand. Pakistan’s young captain, Fatima Sana, sent down a singular spell of 5-1-19-3, including a wicket maiden first up, bowling Amy Jones done nan gross pinch an inswinger.

Heather Knight erstwhile again saved herself pinch a timely DRS reappraisal against Sana which was missing limb stump, only for nan Pakistan skipper to onslaught doubly successful nan adjacent complete pinch 2 further hooping deliveries – 1 which Nat Sciver-Brunt chopped connected to her stumps, and a 2nd which struck Knight plumb successful front.

Earlier, Tammy Beaumont had shouldered arms to Diana Baig and was bowled by a nip-backer which clipped nan apical of her off-stump, while it was nan left-arm rotation of Sadia Iqbal which did for Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb.

Questions whitethorn beryllium raised astir nan International Cricket Council’s determination to shape half of nan World Cup successful Colombo during monsoon season, fixed that this is nan 3rd washout astatine nan crushed – but England will simply respire a sigh of alleviation arsenic they move connected to Indore.