In a heart-wrenching twist at the ICC Women’s World Cup, a promising clash between Pakistan and four-time champions England concluded in a frustrating draw due to persistent rain on Wednesday. This unforeseen interruption robbed Pakistan of what looked like a historic victory.
Originally, England had managed to post 133/9 following an initial rain delay. Pakistan’s chase for a revised target of 113 in 31 overs was off to a brilliant start, with the team looking strong at 34 without loss after just 6.4 overs. However, just as momentum was building, heavy rainfall returned, ultimately forcing the match to be abandoned.
Earlier in the game, Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, delivered a magnificent bowling performance that stifled England’s batting line-up. Her exceptional in-swingers led to the early dismissals of key English players, including opener Tammy Beaumont (4), skipper Heather Knight (18), and the previous match’s centurion, Nat Sciver-Brunt (4). Sana’s fiery spell, which saw her claim four wickets for just 27 runs, left England reeling at 54/5 by the tenth over, igniting hopes among Pakistani fans for their first tournament win.
Following the first rain interruption, England struggled to recover, adding only 54 runs in their final six overs to reach 79/7 in 25 overs. Charlie Dean was their top scorer with 33 runs. Despite England’s dominant start to the tournament, having won all three of their previous league matches by significant margins, Pakistan’s spirited challenge provided a compelling narrative.
For Pakistan, who had faced three consecutive defeats before this game, Fatima Sana’s inspiring performance was a much-needed highlight, showcasing their potential to compete against top-tier teams. Nevertheless, the relentless downpour ultimately sealed the match as a draw, compelling both teams to share the points.