Sadly, the monsoon has set in in Sri Lanka, and this is bad news for cricket lovers because the games that are scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka are imminently poised for rain interruption.
England have dominated against Pakistan in their past fixtures , in fact, Pakistan has never beaten England in Women’s Cricket.
Yesterday, it seemed a different kettle of fish for England, when Pakistan won the toss in almost murky conditions at the Premadasa Stadium, with the threat of rain hovering around , whilst Fatima Sana the Pakistan captain asked England to bat first.
Nick- Sciver Brunt, the England captain, did not show much concern while talking to Nazer Hussain at the toss , that her two prime bowlers, namely Laura Bell and Sophie Ecclestone we’re not playing due to a sudden illness, because her body language indicated that Pakistan is a another walk in the park , similar to what they achieved against Sri Lanka in their last outing at the same venue.
The English were in for a rude shock. None of the top order batters had any answer to the swing that Pakistani seamers Fatima Sana and Diana Baigh got at the Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
The English batters were undone and looked in disarray with the score card reading 78 for 7 wickets in 25 overs when the un invited guest showers her ugly droplinlings, which shut play for almost 2 hours and 45 minutes.
But let’s analyse the English batters failiure and the Pakistani exploitation.
Tommy Beauman left a swinger by shouldering arms off Diana Baigh and was bowled for 4.
Amy Jonnes in swinger from Fatima Sana bowled for 8
Heather Knight Lbw off an in dipper from Fatima Sana out for 18
Nat -Sciver Brunt timber is disturbed by an in swinger by Fatima Sana for 4 and England slump to 4 wickets for 39 in 6.4 overs , whilst Emma Lamb guilty of getting on the Beckfoot for a left arm arm ball facing spinner Sadi Iqbal only succeeded in hearing the rattle of the timber.
Sophie Dunkley tried her scoring weapon, the paddle sweep, and was adjudicated. Lbw off the spin of SadiG Iqbal.
Sad to note England’ s strong top order falk like nine pins against quality seam and spin.
When rain interruption showed its ugly droplinlings , in the 25th over, England fell to 78 for 7 , similar to Australia against the same opposition at the same venue. Sadly, in England, they do not have Beth Mooney to bail, them out.
After play started, the game was reduced to 31 overs . Thanks to Charlie Dean and her positive approach, England got up to 133 for 9 wickets with spinning all rounder top scoring with 35 valuable runs.
The DLS indicated that Pakistan needs 113 to win off 31 overs.
The Pakistani openers got off to a positive approach, making 34 for no loss in 6.4 overs, incidentally the power play overs were reduced to 6.
We saw the ground staff gathering when Pakistan was on a roll , heading towards the winning target. The inevitable was next rain rain and more rain.
Both teams shared a point each , England climbing up the ladder to spot 1 with 7 points will board an aeroplane this morning to play India on Sunday , whilst an unlucky Pakistan languish with just 1 point Will play New Zealand on Saturday.
By the way, Sri Lanka plays South Africa tomorrow. I hope like all of us that weather will be kind.