Pakistan came agonisingly close to their inaugural ODI victory versus the English side on the Colombo pitch this Wednesday, reaching 34 runs without losing a wicket chasing a DLS-adjusted target set at 113 prior to torrential downpours curtailed their aspirations to create history.
England’s batting has lurched from crisis to crisis in this tournament – they had to be bailed out thanks to Heather Knight against Bangladesh with Nat Sciver-Brunt's contribution against Sri Lanka – on this occasion it appeared that their frailties would come back to trouble them, as they collapsed to 79 for seven in the opening 25 overs.
Following an early weather interruption for about four hours, England came back to add 54 further runs – however, Pakistan's opening pair the duo of Ali and Sohail seemed to be handling easily of the chase, assisted by the absence of England's main bowlers Bell and Ecclestone through illness. Solely more showers spared England embarrassment.
“Pakistan bowled brilliantly and created significant difficulties for us to gain any momentum in the game,” the English skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt stated to Sky Sports. "We didn't meet the standard and we acknowledge our shortcomings. The team is preparing effectively and perhaps it's a matter of finding a way to transfer that to matches.”
The washed-out game means that The English team continues their path to reach the knockout stage provided they secure victory one of their final three group matches versus India, Australia and New Zealand.
This tournament has thus far been ideal for spin bowlers, yet on this occasion there was substantial movement that created issues to the England top order, following heavy rain a day before that canceled the remaining portion of the Sri Lanka game versus New Zealand. The youthful Pakistani skipper Fatima Sana delivered an impressive period of 5-1-19-3, comprising a wicket-taking maiden first up, bowling Amy Jones through the gate via an inward-moving ball.
Knight once again saved herself with a timely DRS review facing Sana that was going past leg stump, however the Pakistan captain to strike twice in the following over using two additional curving deliveries – including one that the captain deflected onto to her stumps, and a second which hit Knight right in front.
Earlier, Tammy Beaumont had shouldered arms against Diana Baig and was dismissed by a delivery that came back that grazed the top of the off stump, and it was the left-arm bowling by Sadia Iqbal that accounted for Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb.
Questions may be raised regarding the choice to stage half of the World Cup at Colombo throughout the rainy season, considering this is the third canceled match at the ground – however England will merely breathe a sigh of relief as they move on to the Indore venue.
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