After reducing Australia to an alarming 76/7 a week ago, Pakistan put England under the cosh at 78/7 before rain robbed them off what could have been their maiden victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. The disciplined Fatima Sana led by example with 4 for 27 in a rain-marred affair in Colombo, limiting England to 133/9 from their 31 overs. Another bout of rain, 6.4 overs into Pakistan’s chase, forced them to split points.
Both pace and spin were equally potent as England failed miserably with the bat. Sana was the wrecker-in-chief upfront, but it was Diana Baig who let the cat among the pigeons by knocking over Tammy Beaumont on just her third delivery of the match. Sana then castled Amy Jones with another nip-backer, torpedoing England to 22 for 2.
In her fourth over, the Pakistan skipper shot through England’s middle-order by removing experienced campiagners Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt in the space of four deliveries. The English captain dragged an inside edge onto her stumps while Knight was trapped in front by a nip-backer which she reviewed, but to no avail.
The introduction of spin opened the floodgates as Sadia Iqbal breached the defences of Emma Lamb in just her second over. The seasoned Sophia Dunkley was the next to depart, falling to a shot she banks on against spin – the sweep. The on-field decision was not out though but Pakistan sent it upstairs, only for the three reds on ball-tracking to prove them correct.
Nashra Sandhu, in her unbroken seven-over spell, kept a tight leash at the other end but unfortunately her toil went fruitless. However, Rameen Shamim got on the board as she dislodged the stubborn 70-ball partnership by trapping Alice Capsey in front. The all-rounder tried breaking the shackles with a sweep but missed a straight ball, and then squandered England’s final review in a desperate attempt with rain looming on the horizon.
Play was ultimately halted for four hours and knocked off 19 overs per side. England had six more overs left to restore some pride and put on a competitive score. Charlie Dean and Em Arlott batted proactively upon resumption but the two were dismissed in short order to leave England with 133/9 after 31 overs.
The DLS-adjusted target for Pakistan was 113 and the openers commenced with a solid 34-run stand before rain played spoilsport once again. Omaima Sohail, back on the team sheet, led the charge with an unbeaten 19 off 18 while Muneeba Ali was the more sedate of the two. However, a second spell of rain late in the day meant they never had the chance to see how the chase would have materialized.
Brief Scores: England 133/9 in 31 overs (Charlie Dean 33; Fatima Sana 4-31, Sadia Iqbal 2-16) vs Pakistan 34 for no loss in 6.4 overs (Omaima Sohail 19*) No result due to rain.
