Women's World Cup 2025: Rain Rescues England W from Shock Pakistan W Defeat in Colombo Thriller

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Rain-Soaked Drama: England Saved by Downpour as Pakistan Eyes Historic Upset in Women’s ODI World Cup

Colombo, Sri Lanka – England Women dodged a potential humiliation at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 on Wednesday, when relentless rain abandoned their Group A clash against Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium, forcing both sides to share a point.

The four-time champions, unbeaten entering the match, were reeling at 79 for 7 after 25 overs before the heavens opened, sparing them from what could have been their first ODI loss to Pakistan in 19 attempts.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to bowl first in overcast conditions, a decision that paid immediate dividends as her seamers exploited prodigious swing and seam movement on a pitch still sodden from overnight downpours.

Fatima Sana

Fatima Sana led the charge with a devastating spell of 5-1-19-3, including a wicket-maiden in her opening over, as she bowled England opener Amy Jones through the gate for 8 and later castled Nat Sciver-Brunt for 4 and trapped Heather Knight lbw for 18.

England’s top order crumbled spectacularly, with opener Tammy Beaumont falling early to Diana Baig for a duck, followed by Jones and Sciver-Brunt in Sana’s fiery burst that left them 41 for 3.

The middle order fared no better against Pakistan’s spin trap: Sadia Iqbal dismissed Sophia Dunkley for 11 via a successful review, while Nashra Sundhu and Rameen Shamim accounted for Alice Capsey (16) and others, reducing England to a precarious 57 for 6 by the 12th over.

Compounding England’s woes, key bowlers Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell sat out due to illness, forcing replacements Sarah Glenn and Em Arlott into the fray. The rain arrived just as Shamim pinned Capsey lbw, halting play with England teetering at 79 for 7 after 25 overs.

Nat Sciver-Brunt

A three-hour-and-45-minute delay ensued, after which the match was reduced to 31 overs per side.

Upon resumption, England batted out their remaining six overs cautiously, adding 54 crucial runs for the loss of two more wickets to post 133 for 9. Charlie Dean top-scored with a gritty 33 not out, forging a vital 47-run eighth-wicket stand with Arlott (20), while Dean added further partnerships to drag her side to a defendable total.

Fatima Sana finished with impressive figures of 4 for 28, her best in ODIs, while Baig and Iqbal claimed two wickets apiece.

Pakistan were set a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern adjusted target of 113 from 31 overs, a chase that seemed well within reach given their dominance. Openers Muneeba Ali (9*) and Omaima Sohail (19*) got off to a flyer, racing to 34 without loss in just 6.4 overs at a run rate of over 5.

But as thunder rumbled and sheets of rain lashed the ground once more, umpires called time, officially abandoning the match and awarding each team a point.

The result leaves England atop the Group A table on net run rate ahead of Australia, with five points from four matches, while Pakistan snag their first point from four outings but see their slim semifinal hopes dashed. Sana, visibly devastated with her head in her hands, reflected on the “unlucky” weather but praised her side’s bowling: “We showed we can beat England, but it was not in our favour.”

Sciver-Brunt admitted Pakistan “bowled brilliantly” and made England “look pretty average,” calling it a “wake-up call” ahead of clashes with India and Australia.

On X, reactions poured in with heartbreak for Pakistan—”Gutted for them, they deserved the win,” one fan lamented—and relief for England: “Rain Man strikes again!” Another quipped, “Pakistan all over England until Mother Nature said no.”

The abandonment marks the second straight rain-hit washout at the venue, following Sri Lanka’s tie with New Zealand, testing the tournament’s schedule amid Colombo’s monsoon woes.

Pakistan face New Zealand on October 18, needing a miracle, while England regroup for India on October 19—a fixture now loaded with redemption potential after this soggy escape. In a World Cup of upsets and unpredictability, rain may have stolen the headlines, but Sana’s swing symphony ensures Pakistan exit with heads held high.