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Pakistan came agonisingly close to their maiden limited-overs win versus the English side in Colombo midweek, getting to 34 runs without losing a wicket in pursuit of a revised Duckworth-Lewis-Stern goal totaling 113 runs ahead of torrential downpours curtailed their aspirations to create history.

England's Batting Woes

England's offensive play has stumbled from crisis to crisis in this tournament – they required saving through Heather Knight's efforts against Bangladesh and by Nat Sciver-Brunt against Sri Lanka – and here it appeared that their frailties would return to haunt them, as their innings fell apart to 79 runs with seven wickets down within the initial 25 overs.

Rain Delays and Recovery

After an initial rain delay lasting nearly four hours, England returned to accumulate 54 additional runs – however, Pakistan's opening pair Ali and Sohail looked to be making short work the pursuit, helped by the unavailability of England’s key strike bowlers Bell and Ecclestone due to sickness. Only additional rainfall rescued England.

“Pakistan bowled brilliantly and posed serious challenges for us to get into the game at all,” the English skipper the captain told Sky Sports. “We weren’t good enough and we acknowledge our shortcomings. The team is preparing effectively and it seems we need finding a way to transfer that to matches.”

Championship Ramifications

The abandoned match means that England remain on course to progress to the semi-finals as long as they win one out of their remaining three group-stage encounters facing India, Australia and New Zealand.

Playing Surface and Bowling Excellence

This tournament has thus far been a spinner’s paradise, but here it was significant swing which caused problems for England's top batsmen, after massive rainfall a day before which washed out the second half of Sri Lanka’s match against New Zealand. The youthful Pakistani skipper Fatima Sana bowled an outstanding spell with figures of 5-1-19-3, including a wicket maiden initially, dismissing Amy Jones between bat and pad with an inswinger.

Crucial Instances and Review System

Knight once more preserved her wicket with a timely DRS review versus Sana which was missing leg stump, but then the Pakistani skipper to take two wickets during the subsequent over with two more swinging balls – the first of which the captain deflected onto to her stumps, and a subsequent delivery that trapped Knight directly in front.

Before this, Beaumont had opted not to play facing Diana Baig and was dismissed by a delivery that came back which hit the top of her off-stump, while it was the left-arm bowling from Sadia Iqbal that dismissed Dunkley and Lamb.

Tournament Scheduling Questions

Questions may be raised about the decision to host part of the World Cup in the Colombo venue during monsoon season, considering this is the third abandonment at the ground – however England will merely breathe a sigh of relief as they move on to Indore.