Rain saves England at the Women’s World Cup and ruins Pakistan’s hopes of a historic win

Pakistan came agonizingly close to a maiden one-day international win against England in Colombo on Wednesday, reaching 34 without loss in pursuit of a DLS-adjusted target of 113 before heavy rain curtailed their hopes of making history.

England’s batting side have gone from one disaster to another in this World Cup – having to be rescued by Heather Knight against Bangladesh and by Nat Sciver-Brunt against Sri Lanka – and it looked like their weaknesses would return as they slumped to 79 for seven in the first 25 overs.

After an initial rain delay of almost four hours, England returned to add another 54 runs – but Pakistan openers Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail appeared to make short work of the chase, aided by the absence of strike bowlers Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone through illness. Only further rain saved England’s fortunes.

“Pakistan bowled brilliantly and made it very difficult for us to even get into the match,” England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt told Sky Sports. “We weren’t good enough and we’ll keep our hands up. Everyone is practicing really well and I think it’s about finding a way to do that in games.”

The clean sheet means England remain on course to progress to the semi-finals as long as they win one of their final three group stage encounters against India, Australia and New Zealand.

This tournament has been a spinner’s paradise so far, but here it was a miraculous swing that caused problems for the English top order, following the massive rain 24 hours earlier that wiped out the second half of Sri Lanka’s match against New Zealand. Pakistan’s young captain Fatima Sana sent in a remarkable spell of 5-1-19-3, including a wicket maiden first, and bowled Amy Jones through the gate with an inswinger.

Heather Knight saved herself again with a timely DRS review against Sana, who missed leg stump, but the Pakistan captain struck twice in the next over with two more hoop deliveries – one that caught Nat Sciver-Brunt on her stumps, and a second that struck Knight plumb in front.

Earlier, Tammy Beaumont had shouldered arms to Diana Baig and was bowled by a nip-backer that clipped the top of her off-stump, while it was Sadia Iqbal’s left-arm turn that did that for Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb.

Questions may be raised about the International Cricket Council’s decision to stage half of the World Cup in Colombo during the monsoon season, given that this is the third outbreak on the ground – but England will simply breathe a sigh of relief as they move on to Indore.