Rain had the final say in Colombo on Wednesday, forcing the stop of play denying Pakistan a chance at their first victory. After a masterful bowling performance led by captain Fatima Sana, Pakistan had reduced England to 133 for nine in a rain-shortened 31-over innings. Pakistan were 34 for no loss in pursuit of a DLS-adjusted target of 113 when the rain returned, eventually forcing the match to be called off.
Put in to bat, England's batting lineup crumbled against the Pakistani pace attack. Diana Baig provided the initial breakthrough before captain Fatima Sana ripped through the top and middle order, claiming four wickets for 27 runs. Key batters like Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight were dismissed cheaply as England collapsed to 79 for seven before the first rain delay interrupted play.
After a nearly four-hour delay, the match was reduced to 31 overs per side. A late 47-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Charlie Dean, 33 and debutant Em Arlott, 18, provided some resistance and pushed England's total to 133. In response, Pakistan's openers Omaima Sohail and Muneeba Ali started their chase confidently, reaching 34 without loss in 6.4 overs and staying well ahead of the required rate before the final downpour.
England's batters struggled to adapt to the sluggish surface and the pressure applied by Pakistan's bowlers. The top order failed to rotate the strike effectively in the PowerPlay and consistently lost wickets to both pace and the left-arm spin of Sadia Iqbal, who picked up two wickets. The innings unraveled quickly, and had it not been for the late partnership and the rain, England were facing a much heavier defeat.
The washout means both teams share a point. For Pakistan, who are yet to win a match in the tournament, it was a frustrating end to what could have been their first-ever ODI victory against England. For England, the result was a fortunate escape, moving them to the top of the standings on net run rate while serving as a reality check for their batting lineup.