Cricket can be a cruel game, and on Wednesday in Colombo, Pakistan Women learned that the hard way. In what could have been a historic victory — their first-ever win against England Women in ODIs — the weather had other plans. The Women’s World Cup 2025 clash was abandoned due to persistent rain, leaving both teams to share the points.

The much-anticipated clash between England and Pakistan promised excitement from the start. England, the four-time champions, were expected to dominate, but Pakistan turned the tables with a spirited all-round performance.After early rain delays, the game was reduced to 31 overs per side, and England were sent in to bat first. Pakistan’s bowlers made the most of the moisture and movement in the pitch, delivering one of their finest collective bowling efforts in recent memory.

Pakistan’s captain and pace spearhead Fatima Sana led from the front with a fiery spell that rattled England’s top order. She returned with impressive figures of 4 wickets, showcasing her ability to swing the new ball and extract uneven bounce from the surface.Fatima’s opening spell saw key English batters — including Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont — fall cheaply. The English middle order never truly recovered. Sadia Iqbal added to the pressure, chipping in with 2 wickets, while Diana Baig maintained tight lines from the other end.

By the 20th over, England were reeling at 79/6, a position few expected from such an experienced batting lineup.

After the collapse, England found some stability thanks to Charlie Dean, who fought hard for her 33 runs. Alongside Emily Arlott, Dean helped the team avoid complete disaster, adding a crucial 54 runs in the final six overs after another rain delay.Their effort pushed England to 133/9 in 31 overs — a below-par total but one that gave them something to defend on a pitch offering plenty for seamers.

Chasing a revised DLS target of 113, Pakistan’s openers Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail walked in with confidence. The duo played positively, finding boundaries and rotating the strike with ease.In just 6.4 overs, Pakistan reached 34/0, looking well set to chase down the target and record a famous victory. Muneeba was patient with her 9*(22), while Omaima was fluent, striking 19*(18) with intent.But just as the game seemed to be slipping away from England, the rain returned — heavier than before.

Despite hopes that the rain might relent, the heavens refused to cooperate. Covers stayed on for over an hour, and with the cut-off time for a 20-over contest missed, the umpires had no choice but to abandon the match.

The final scoreboard read:
Pakistan Women 34/0 in 6.4 overs (Chasing 113, Match Abandoned).For Pakistan, it was pure heartbreak. They had bowled brilliantly, batted confidently, and seemed destined for victory before nature intervened.With the points shared, England moved to the top of the table due to a superior Net Run Rate (NRR), while Pakistan opened their account but saw their semi-final hopes fade.

“The pitch was perfect for pacers, and we made full use of it. I’m proud of how our bowlers performed, especially Diana and Sadia. We had a real chance to win this one, but unfortunately, the rain spoiled it. We’ll look to improve our batting consistency going forward.”

“Pakistan bowled brilliantly. Fatima and Diana made us work hard for every run. We didn’t adapt quickly enough to the conditions. The rain breaks didn’t help, but we must take responsibility. We’ll regroup, assess, and come back stronger in the next game.”

For England, the washout was a lucky escape. A loss would have been a major setback to their semi-final ambitions, and the draw now allows them to stay in contention.For Pakistan, it was an agonizing missed opportunity. They were in control throughout the match and looked set to make history by defeating England for the first time in women’s ODI cricket. However, they can take pride in their performance, especially in the bowling department.

• Fatima Sana’s 4/27 was her best bowling figure in a Women’s World Cup match.
  
• This was Pakistan’s first-ever match against England in which they did not lose a wicket in the Powerplay.
  
• England’s 133/9 was their lowest completed innings total in the 2025 Women’s World Cup so far.
  
• Charlie Dean’s 33 was the highest individual score in the match.
  
• This was the second abandoned game of the 2025 Women’s World Cup due to rain.
  

Next Fixtures

• England Women will head to Indore for their next match against Australia Women, a blockbuster clash expected to test their form and adaptability.
  
• Pakistan Women will look to regroup as they face New Zealand Women next, hoping to finally register a full win.
  

The England vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2025 match will be remembered as a story of what could have been. Pakistan outplayed England in every department but were denied by the weather. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for a side that showed heart, discipline, and genuine improvement.England, on the other hand, will count themselves lucky to escape with a point. As the tournament progresses, both teams will need to focus on their next challenges, with Pakistan aiming for redemption and England seeking consistency.

The match was abandoned due to persistent rain in Colombo. Despite multiple attempts to restart play, conditions remained unfit for resumption, leading to a washout.

Fatima Sana was the standout performer with a fiery spell of 4 wickets, helping Pakistan restrict England to 133/9 in 31 overs.

After applying the DLS method, Pakistan were set a target of 113 runs in 31 overs.

Pakistan were 34/0 in 6.4 overs, with Muneeba Ali (9)* and Omaima Sohail (19)* at the crease.

With the points shared, England moved to the top of the table on Net Run Rate, while Pakistan remained fifth, which dented their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

No, the highest score in the game was 33 by Charlie Dean from England.

Initially scheduled for 50 overs, the match was reduced to 31 overs per side due to rain interruptions.

Nat Sciver-Brunt praised Pakistan’s bowling attack and admitted England struggled to adapt to the seam-friendly conditions.

Fatima Sana took 4 wickets, marking her best performance in a World Cup game.

Pakistan will play their next match against New Zealand Women, where they’ll hope to convert their form into a victory.

Cricket can be a cruel game, and on Wednesday in Colombo, Pakistan Women learned that the hard way. In what could have been a historic victory — their first-ever win against England Women in ODIs — the weather had other plans. The Women’s World Cup 2025 clash was abandoned due to persistent rain, leaving both teams to share the points.

The much-anticipated clash between England and Pakistan promised excitement from the start. England, the four-time champions, were expected to dominate, but Pakistan turned the tables with a spirited all-round performance.After early rain delays, the game was reduced to 31 overs per side, and England were sent in to bat first. Pakistan’s bowlers made the most of the moisture and movement in the pitch, delivering one of their finest collective bowling efforts in recent memory.

Pakistan’s captain and pace spearhead Fatima Sana led from the front with a fiery spell that rattled England’s top order. She returned with impressive figures of 4 wickets, showcasing her ability to swing the new ball and extract uneven bounce from the surface.Fatima’s opening spell saw key English batters — including Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont — fall cheaply. The English middle order never truly recovered. Sadia Iqbal added to the pressure, chipping in with 2 wickets, while Diana Baig maintained tight lines from the other end.

By the 20th over, England were reeling at 79/6, a position few expected from such an experienced batting lineup.

After the collapse, England found some stability thanks to Charlie Dean, who fought hard for her 33 runs. Alongside Emily Arlott, Dean helped the team avoid complete disaster, adding a crucial 54 runs in the final six overs after another rain delay.Their effort pushed England to 133/9 in 31 overs — a below-par total but one that gave them something to defend on a pitch offering plenty for seamers.

Chasing a revised DLS target of 113, Pakistan’s openers Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail walked in with confidence. The duo played positively, finding boundaries and rotating the strike with ease.In just 6.4 overs, Pakistan reached 34/0, looking well set to chase down the target and record a famous victory. Muneeba was patient with her 9*(22), while Omaima was fluent, striking 19*(18) with intent.But just as the game seemed to be slipping away from England, the rain returned — heavier than before.

Despite hopes that the rain might relent, the heavens refused to cooperate. Covers stayed on for over an hour, and with the cut-off time for a 20-over contest missed, the umpires had no choice but to abandon the match.

The final scoreboard read:
Pakistan Women 34/0 in 6.4 overs (Chasing 113, Match Abandoned).For Pakistan, it was pure heartbreak. They had bowled brilliantly, batted confidently, and seemed destined for victory before nature intervened.With the points shared, England moved to the top of the table due to a superior Net Run Rate (NRR), while Pakistan opened their account but saw their semi-final hopes fade.

“The pitch was perfect for pacers, and we made full use of it. I’m proud of how our bowlers performed, especially Diana and Sadia. We had a real chance to win this one, but unfortunately, the rain spoiled it. We’ll look to improve our batting consistency going forward.”

“Pakistan bowled brilliantly. Fatima and Diana made us work hard for every run. We didn’t adapt quickly enough to the conditions. The rain breaks didn’t help, but we must take responsibility. We’ll regroup, assess, and come back stronger in the next game.”

For England, the washout was a lucky escape. A loss would have been a major setback to their semi-final ambitions, and the draw now allows them to stay in contention.For Pakistan, it was an agonizing missed opportunity. They were in control throughout the match and looked set to make history by defeating England for the first time in women’s ODI cricket. However, they can take pride in their performance, especially in the bowling department.

• Fatima Sana’s 4/27 was her best bowling figure in a Women’s World Cup match.
  
• This was Pakistan’s first-ever match against England in which they did not lose a wicket in the Powerplay.
  
• England’s 133/9 was their lowest completed innings total in the 2025 Women’s World Cup so far.
  
• Charlie Dean’s 33 was the highest individual score in the match.
  
• This was the second abandoned game of the 2025 Women’s World Cup due to rain.
  

Next Fixtures

• England Women will head to Indore for their next match against Australia Women, a blockbuster clash expected to test their form and adaptability.
  
• Pakistan Women will look to regroup as they face New Zealand Women next, hoping to finally register a full win.
  

The England vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2025 match will be remembered as a story of what could have been. Pakistan outplayed England in every department but were denied by the weather. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for a side that showed heart, discipline, and genuine improvement.England, on the other hand, will count themselves lucky to escape with a point. As the tournament progresses, both teams will need to focus on their next challenges, with Pakistan aiming for redemption and England seeking consistency.

The match was abandoned due to persistent rain in Colombo. Despite multiple attempts to restart play, conditions remained unfit for resumption, leading to a washout.

Fatima Sana was the standout performer with a fiery spell of 4 wickets, helping Pakistan restrict England to 133/9 in 31 overs.

After applying the DLS method, Pakistan were set a target of 113 runs in 31 overs.

Pakistan were 34/0 in 6.4 overs, with Muneeba Ali (9)* and Omaima Sohail (19)* at the crease.

With the points shared, England moved to the top of the table on Net Run Rate, while Pakistan remained fifth, which dented their chances of reaching the semi-finals.

No, the highest score in the game was 33 by Charlie Dean from England.

Initially scheduled for 50 overs, the match was reduced to 31 overs per side due to rain interruptions.

Nat Sciver-Brunt praised Pakistan’s bowling attack and admitted England struggled to adapt to the seam-friendly conditions.

Fatima Sana took 4 wickets, marking her best performance in a World Cup game.

Pakistan will play their next match against New Zealand Women, where they’ll hope to convert their form into a victory.