Pakistan came agonisingly close to a first one-day international win against England in Colombo on Wednesday, reaching 34 without loss in pursuit of a DLS-adjusted target of 113 before torrential downpours curtailed their hopes of making history.

England’s batting has lurched from one disaster to another during this World Cup – they had to be bailed out by Heather Knight against Bangladesh and by Nat Sciver-Brunt against Sri Lanka – and it looked like their frailties would return as they collapsed to 79 for seven in the opening 25 overs.

After an initial rain delay of almost four hours, England returned to add 54 further runs – but Pakistan’s openers Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail looked to be making short work of the chase, assisted by the absence of strike bowlers Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone through illness. Only further rain saved England’s blushes.

“Pakistan bowled brilliantly and made it really hard for us to get into the game at all,” the England captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt, told Sky Sports. “We weren’t good enough and we’ll hold our hands up. Everyone’s practising really well and I guess it’s about finding a way to do that in games.”

The no-result means that England remain on course to progress to the semi-finals as long as they win one of their final three group-stage encounters against India, Australia and New Zealand.

This tournament has so far been a spinner’s paradise, but here it was prodigious swing which caused problems to the England top order, after massive rainfall 24 hours earlier which washed out the second half of Sri Lanka’s match against New Zealand. Pakistan’s young captain, Fatima Sana, sent down a remarkable spell of 5-1-19-3, including a wicket maiden first up, bowling Amy Jones through the gate with an inswinger.

Heather Knight once again saved herself with a timely DRS review against Sana which was missing leg stump, only for the Pakistan captain to strike twice in the next over with two further hooping deliveries – one which Nat Sciver-Brunt chopped on to her stumps, and a second which struck Knight plumb in front.

Earlier, Tammy Beaumont had shouldered arms to Diana Baig and was bowled by a nip-backer which clipped the top of her off-stump, while it was the left-arm spin of Sadia Iqbal which did for Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb.

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Questions may be raised about the International Cricket Council’s decision to stage half of the World Cup in Colombo during monsoon season, given that this is the third washout at the ground – but England will simply breathe a sigh of relief as they move on to Indore.