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Pakistan captain Fatima Sana\u2019s verdict<\/p>\n
I think we showed that we can beat England, but [the rain] was not in our favour.<\/p>\n
[On her four-for with the ball] I know this pitch has been good for the fast bowlers so I just tried to bowl a good length. It would have been good [to take those wickets] if we had won the match.<\/p>\n
We’ve bowled well in the last couple of matches so hopefully we can improve our bowling in the next few games.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a>Nat Sciver-Brunt’s reaction<\/p>\n I thought Pakistan bowled brilliantly and made it really hard for us to get into the game at all. We weren\u2019t good enough and we\u2019ll hold our hands up.<\/p>\n [What didn\u2019t you do well enough with the bat?] Probably adapting as quickly as possible to how much the wicket was seaming. We couldn\u2019t put a partnership together at all.<\/p>\n [On the form of the other batters] Everyone\u2019s practising really well and I guess it\u2019s about finding a way to do that in games.<\/p>\n We\u2019re going to do a different ground now, in Indore, so we\u2019ll have to assess the conditions there and pick out different tools that we all have.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n England take a point \u2013 please don\u2019t ask them to take any positives \u2013 and return to the top of the World Cup league table. This is how it looks after four games apiece.<\/p>\n England 7pts (NRR +1.89)<\/p>\n Australia 7 (+1.35)<\/p>\n South Africa 6 (-0.62)<\/p>\n India 4 (0.68)<\/p>\n New Zealand 3 (-0.24)<\/p>\n Bangladesh 2 (-0.26)<\/p>\n Sri Lanka 2 (-1.53)<\/p>\n Pakistan 1 (-1.89)<\/p>\n India\u2019s game against New Zealand a week tomorrow could become a de facto quarter-final.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Match abandoned<\/p>\n England have dodged one there. Pakistan were on course for an historic first ODI victory over England when the rain returned in Colombo. Had play continued, they would have needed 79 from 148 balls with all 10 wickets intact. Yeah.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.31 EDT<\/p>\n Still raining, I\u2019m afraid. Time is running out and I suspect the match will be abandoned in the next 10-15 minutes.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Rain stops play<\/p>\n 6.4 overs: Pakistan 34-0 (Muneeba 9, Omaima 19) And they\u2019re off. That doesn\u2019t mean the end of the game \u2013 it\u2019s currently 9.34pm local time \u2013 but Pakistan need to bat 20 overs for there to be a positive result either way. (Unless they get bowled out or chase their target, yada yada.)<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.08 EDT<\/p>\n It\u2019s raining again. Play is continuing for now but the groundstaff are loitering with intent.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6th over: Pakistan 33-0 (Muneeba 9, Omaima 18) Dean replaces Smith for the last over of the reduced Powerplay and finds some sharp spin during an encouraging maiden.<\/p>\n Muneeba was almost bowled round her legs second ball; there was a slight but crucial deflection off either bat or pad.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5th over: Pakistan 33-0 (Muneeba 9, Omaima 18) Em Arlott replaces Sciver-Brunt. Omaima snicks a big drive for four, past the fielder at short third, before slicing a deliberate boundary off the last ball. England are in several sorts here, maybe all sorts.<\/p>\n Omaima Sohail hits a boundary as Pakistan motor along towards their total. Photograph: Sameera Peiris\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a012.03 EDT<\/p>\n 4th over: Pakistan 24-0 (Muneeba 8, Omaima 10) No problems for Omaima in Smith\u2019s second over: she drives two boundaries through the covers to continue Pakistan\u2019s fine start. Smith didn\u2019t get her length right \u2013 the first was a full toss, the second overpitched \u2013 but Omaima put both deliveries away with auhority.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3rd over: Pakistan 14-0 (Muneeba 7, Omaima 1) This would be a landmark victory for Pakistan. They\u2019ve lost all 13 completed ODIs against England, and the head-to-head across both white-ball formats is P31 W1 L30.<\/p>\n Sciver-Brunt shakes her head in frustration after slipping a loose delivery down the leg side for five wides. Jones could only help the ball on its way.<\/p>\n England aren\u2019t really threatening go take the early wickets they need to undermine Pakistan\u2019s runchase.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2nd over: Pakistan 6-0 (Muneeba 6, Omaima 0) What England would give for Linsey Smith to run through the top order as she did against South Africa. <\/p>\n There are no wickets in her first over – but she does cause plenty of problems for the right-handed Omaima, who almost falls over an inswinger and then survives an LBW appeal after playing around her front pad. Missing leg.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 1st over: Pakistan 5-0 (Muneeba 5, Omaima 0) Sciver-Brunt\u2019s third ball is too short and cut for four by Muneeba Ali. The rest of the over is spot on, just a single from it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s a quick turnaround \u2013 no time to waste \u2013 and the players are back on the field. With Lauren Bell not playing today, Nat Sciver-Brunt will open the bowling.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.39 EDT<\/p>\n Pakistan’s target is 113 from 31 overs<\/p>\n They are favourites.<\/p>\n They are Pakistan.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 31st over: England 133-9 (Glenn 3, Smith 4) Smith and Glenn manages to scamper five from the last two deliveries; who knows, they could be vital.<\/p>\n England scored 54 for 2 in that six-over mini-session, an excellent effort from the lower order that has at least given them something to protect. We don\u2019t know Pakistan\u2019s target yet but the commentators think it will be around 113.<\/p>\n And finally, Fatima\u2019s figures of 4 for 27 are the best for Pakistan against England in a momen\u2019s ODI.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.29 EDT<\/p>\n WICKET! England 126-9 (Dean c Omaima b Sana 33)<\/p>\n Fatima Sana strikes again! Even in the final over that\u2019s an important wicket, her fourth of the innings. Dean tried to ramp Fatima for four but didn\u2019t clear Omaima at short fine leg.<\/p>\n Charlie Dean is out for a handy 33. Photograph: Sameera Peiris\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Five balls remaining. Dean did well to score 28 from 19 balls after the restart.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.29 EDT<\/p>\n 30th over: England 125-8 (Dean 33, Glenn 0) That was the last ball of an eventful penultimate over: 13 runs, a dropped catch, a missed run-out chance and finally the run out of Arlott.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.22 EDT<\/p>\n WICKET! England 125-8 (Arlott run out 18)<\/p>\n Arlott smashes the ball back at Omaima, who can\u2019t hold on to a very tough return catch above her head.<\/p>\n The wet conditions aren\u2019t great for the spinners, and Omaima bowls successive full tosses that are walloped for four and then two by Dean. Arlott would have been run out off the second delivery had Omaima\u2019s flick throw hit the stumps.<\/p>\n Dean cuts four more, a superb stroke, and then Arlott is run out at the non-striker\u2019s end after trying to steal a single to backward point.<\/p>\n Em Arlott is run out for 18. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.26 EDT<\/p>\n 29th over: England 112-7 (Dean 23, Arlott 15) Pakistan have a big LBW appeal turned down when Dean under-edges a reverse sweep onto the pad. The resulting run is given as a leg-bye but she definitely hit it; had she not done so it would have been a really good shout too.<\/p>\n Arlott gets her second boundary by helping a leg-stump full toss from Shamim round the corner. Useful runs, these: Dean and Arlott have added 33 in four overs since the restart.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 28th over: England 102-7 (Dean 20, Arlott 9) Dean, who is charging almost every delivery she faces, smashes the ball just past the outstretched left hand of the bowler Omaima.<\/p>\n That shot brings one of four singles from the first five balls \u2013 but then Arlott clips a superbly placed shot through midwicket for four to make it eight from the over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 27th over: England 94-7 (Dean 18, Arlott 3) Rameen Shahim, who had figures of 4-1-3-1 before the rain delay, concedes 10 from her fifth over.<\/p>\n Dean, such a smart and resourceful lower-order batter, nails a reverse sweep through point for four and then scampers back for consecutive twos.<\/p>\n Four overs to go.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.13 EDT<\/p>\n 26th over: England 84-7 (Dean 9, Arlott 2) Omaima Sohail, the occasional offspinner, comes on for the first time in the innings. England try to force the pace without a huge amount of success \u2013 there are five runs from the over including two iffy singles to mid-off. Arlott would have been out with a direct hit; Dean was fractionally home when the throw hit the stumps.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n DLS will still be needed to determine Pakistan\u2019s target. The chances are England\u2019s eventual total will be reduced.<\/p>\n Okay, here we go.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Charlie Dean and Em Arlott will resume on 5 and 1 respectively, with Sarah Glenn and Linsey Smith \u2013 both authentic tailenders \u2013 to come. Sounds a bit daft but, even with only six overs left, Dean and Arlott should probably take a couple of overs to get themselves in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Yep, play will restart at 4pm BST. It\u2019s actually 31 overs a side, not 30.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The two captains are chatting to the umpires, who seem unsure about something. There are a few damp patches on the outfield; the umpire were also patting the pitch inquisitively a few minutes ago.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.39 EDT<\/p>\n The umpires are inspecting again, which suggests the restart time could be brought forward. Oh cricket, how you spoil us.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Match reduced to 30 overs a side<\/p>\n Apparently the match is now 30 overs a side. England will resume on 79 for 7 from 25 overs, and in abundant bother.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.42 EDT<\/p>\n Anyone out there? A reminder that, if the match is reduced to a 20-over, Pakistan\u2019s target will be 61. And Sophie Ecclestone isn\u2019t playing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Play will resume at 4pm BST (8.30pm local time)<\/p>\n No word yet on how many overs have been lost or whether England will bat again.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The covers are coming off<\/p>\n In an unlikely development, the rain has eased and the groundstaff are getting into their work. We\u2019re still a fair way from a resumption \u2013 potentially hours rather than minutes \u2013 but it\u2019s a promising development.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.02 EDT<\/p>\n Sign up for The Spin<\/p>\n Our weekly cricket newsletter, which started in 2002, is still going strong. In today\u2019s edition, Jim Wallace remembers some of the supporting actors who have stolen the show in men\u2019s Ashes series.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks Tanya, hello folks. It\u2019s bleak, bleak, bleak in Colombo, with time running out to begin a clean-up operation that would enable the match to resume by 9.38pm local time (5.08pm BST).<\/p>\n If England do escape with a point, they\u2019ll probably need to win only one of the last three games to reach the semi-finals. That sounds straightforward until you remember those games are against India, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n I\u2019m getting ahead of myself. Won\u2019t you look at that weather in Colombo!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Time for me to go. Rob Smyth will entertain you as the rain falls, and hopefully bring you some sort of a match before the clock runs down. Bye!<\/p>\n Share<\/a>The rain continues to fall<\/p>\n And while it does \u2013 shall we stroke our chins over England\u2019s batting? Do they need to switch things up before the games against Australia and India? Bring in Danni Wyatt-Hodges? Move Emma Lamb, PCA player of the year with a thousand runs opening the batting in domestic cricket, up the order?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n No news.<\/p>\n On the No Balls podcast, a fascinating interview with Sophie Devine, talking about the fact this her last World Cup.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a sense of freedom. I can drop all the other stuff, and go out and play cricket. We\u2019ve spoken a lot about how much energy I\u2019ve got but now I\u2019ve got nothing afterwards so if I\u2019m absolutely carked at the end of it, its like \u2013 who cares.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to be carried off the field in that last game because I\u2019ve given every part of my mind, body and soul to the game and there\u2019s a real sense of freedom in that.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Time for another coffee.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>We are now losing overs from this game<\/p>\n Beat the clock. Working backwards, if the teams do get out there at 5.08, Pakistan would need 61 from 20 overs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re back in Colombo, where Nasser Hussain reports on heavy rain getting heavier. Young fans chat on yellow plastic seats, families sit inside, including Katherine S-B and baby Theo.<\/p>\n Sky\u2019s commentators mull over the tea leaves.\u201cPakistan were exceptional, they hit a really good length, Fatima was exceptional. We saw the most seam movement we\u2019ve see in this tournament. England\u2019s frailties against the ball were exposed. Pakistan made good adjustments in terms of their seam position. England didn\u2019t have an answer, they didn\u2019t come forward int he crease.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Over on the BBC, Alex Hartley is asked what her favourite surprise of the tournament has been, \u201cBangladesh – they\u2019ve competed way more than the West Indies would have done, and I\u2019m looking forward to seeing how they improve between this and the next World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n And as player (so far) of the tournament: Sophie Ecclestone and Sophie Devine for Hartley, Nadine de Klerk for Dan Norcross, and Richa Ghosh and Ecclestone for Estelle Vasudevan. <\/p>\n Do any OBO readers have any alternative suggestions?<\/p>\n The cut off time for this match is 5.08pm.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Still raining<\/p>\n Sky have now resorted to a library match of England v Pakistan men back in the days when Ryan Sidebottom played. So I don\u2019t think we\u2019re going to be seeing any action from Colombo for a while.<\/p>\n Pakistan got so close to bowling Australia out, if they could finishes things off against England it would be a huge boost to their confidence. Though their brittle batting would then have to shimmy the runs from somewhere.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n No news from Colombo, but I assume it\u2019s still raining. Ah, here we are, the television pictures show a ground masquerading as a swimming pool, completely covered by blue covers.<\/p>\n Ah. Photograph: Lahiru Harshana\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.53 EDT<\/p>\n This was Raf\u2019s take from last week. Some prescient observations.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hello there Geoff Wignall. \u201cNot there yet, but has a team ever been bowled out in an ODI without a single catch or runout?\u201d Hmmmm\u2026 let me come back to you that one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Pakistan are applauded off the field by their coaching staff, England must face a stern-faced Edwards. A really special performance by Pakistan\u2019s bowlers. I think we\u2019re in for a bit of a delay here, so will go and grab a coffee \u2013 back shortly.<\/p>\n The rain saves England\u2026for now. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.12 EDT<\/p>\n Rain stops play – England 79-7<\/p>\n 25th over: England 79-7 (Dean 5, Arlott 1) A huge appeal for lbw marks the end of a maiden from Sadia, but Arlott has a sliver of bat on pad.On come the covers in a whirlwind of dark blue sheets.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.13 EDT<\/p>\n 24th over: England 79-7 (Dean 5, Arlott 0) Pakistan lift a beaming Shamim into the air as England lose their last recognised batter. Capsey\u2019s fantastically expressive face sinks in disappointment. Around the boundary the groundstaff stand holding the groundsheets in readiness.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Capsey lbw Shamim 16 (England 78-7)<\/p>\n Capsey stretches forward with bat and front leg. Sweeps. Misses. Reviews like a condemned woman with one foot on the gallows. Couldn\u2019t make the most of her reprieve.<\/p>\n Rameem Shamim of Pakistan is hoisted aloft by her teammates after taking the wicket of Alice Capsey. Photograph: Sameera Peiris\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.22 EDT<\/p>\n 23rd over: England 78-6 (Capsey 16, Dean 5) Nashra, cloth in her back pocket, whizzing through her overs. A good throw would have had Capsey in a bit of trouble as they come back for a second.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22nd over: England 75-6 (Capsey 15, Dean 3) Back to back maidens.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 21st over: England 75-6 (Capsey 15, Dean 3) Ooof a beauty from Nashra shimmies past the outside edge of Capsey\u2019s back. A maiden.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 20th over: England 75-6 (Capsey 15, Dean 3) Shamin wheels in, bowling with her cap on. A single off the first ball from Capsey and Dean defends the rest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19th over: England 74-6 (Capsey 14, Dean 3) It looks very, very murky at Colombo now. The hovering groundsmen suggest rain is imminent. Capsey shovels four past mie on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18th over: England 69-6 (Capsey 9, Dean 3) Lucky, lucky Alice Capsey. Sweeps Rameen Shamim\u2019s first ball, a full toss, straight into the hands of Muneeba at square leg who inexplicably drops a sitter.<\/p>\n