Only 37.4 overs were possible in the 15th match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 between Pakistan and England on Wednesday (15th October). Pakistan, still searching for their first win of the competition, shared points with England as back-to-back games ended with no result in Colombo.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan decided to bowl first after winning the toss. Coming into this game, both teams made two changes each. Pakistan brought in Omaima Sohail and Aliya Riaz, replacing Sadaf Shamas and Eyman Fatima, while Sarah Glenn and Em Arlott came into the England side with Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone missing out due to illness.
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Pakistan made early inroads as both England openers were bowled within 2.2 overs. Diana Baig struck in her very first over with a big inswinger to dismiss Tammy Beaumont, and five balls later, skipper Fatima Sana got rid of Amy Jones with a nip-backer. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was fresh off a superb hundred against Sri Lanka in their previous game, became her opposite number’s second victim. In the same over, Sana dismissed England’s No. 3 batter Heather Knight for 18, leaving them reeling at 39 for 4.
After the pacers did their job with the new ball, the Pakistan spinners came into play and the wickets continued to tumble. Left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal castled Emma Lamb and trapped Sophia Dunkley in front of the stumps with a successful review in consecutive overs. At 6 down for just 57, 21 runs were added for the 7th wicket before Alice Capsey was given out LBW to off-spinner Rameen Shamim.
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Eleven balls later, rain came down and stopped play at the halfway mark of England’s innings around 4:43 PM. The break lasted for more than 3 hours and 30 minutes. Once the rain stopped, the ground staff took off the covers, and the match officials decided to resume the game at 8:30 PM with 31 overs per side.
England got another six overs to bat with three wickets in hand. Charlie Dean and Em Arlott made useful contributions, adding 47 runs for the 8th wicket. The latter was run out for 18 in the penultimate over, while Dean top-scored with 33 before being dismissed in the final over. Fifty-four runs came in those last six overs as England ended up with a score of 133 for 9.
Pakistan received a revised target of 113 from 31 overs under the DLS method. However, the run chase lasted only 6.4 overs, though their openers got off to a good start with 34 runs without losing a wicket, before play was stopped yet again due to the return of rain. Unfortunately, the match was eventually called off, and Pakistan would be really disappointed, having had a clear chance to secure their first win—not only after reducing England to 78 for 7 but also with the start they had in the chase.
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Yesterday’s clash between Sri Lanka and New Zealand was also called off following the completion of Sri Lanka’s innings due to persistent showers in Colombo.
Brief Scores:
England Women – 133/9 (31) Charlie Dean 33, Heather Knight 18, Em Arlott 18, Alice Capsey 16, Fatima Sana 4/27, Sadia Iqbal 2/16, Rameen Shamim 1/22, Diana Baig 1/25
Pakistan Women – 34/0 (6.4) Omaima Sohail 19*
No result. (31 overs per side, Pakistan target – 113)
. Pakistan, still searching for their first win of the competition, shared points with England as back-to-back games ended with no result in Colombo.){kind=link}