Persistent rain has led to a draw in the Women’s Cricket World Cup match between Pakistan and England in Colombo, with Pakistan securing their first point of the tournament. The highly anticipated clash was halted with Pakistan showing promising signs in their chase, while England’s batting order faced significant pressure despite a late recovery. The result sees England maintain their lead at the top of the standings, improving their net run rate advantage over Australia.
The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo became a scene of frustration as showers repeatedly interrupted play. Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, was the standout performer with the ball, delivering a devastating opening spell that reduced England to 78 for 7. Her sharp pace and movement caused havoc among the English top and middle-order batters. However, a determined 47-run stand between Charlie Dean and Em Arlott managed to push England’s score to 133 for 9 by the time the first rain delay occurred. This partnership was crucial in preventing a complete batting collapse.
England’s batting lineup faced additional challenges due to the illness-related absence of key players Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell. Although replacements Sarah Glenn and Em Arlott contributed admirably, the initial batting order struggled to establish dominance. Early dismissals of Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, followed by the challenging innings of captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt, underscored the difficulties. Sana’s impactful bowling continued, notably removing Sciver-Brunt with a delivery that swung back sharply. Chasing a revised target of 113 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, Pakistan’s openers Omaima Sohail and Muneeba Ali were in good form, reaching 34 without loss before further rain forced the match’s abandonment. This draw offers Pakistan encouragement, demonstrating their ability to compete against top-tier teams.