Pakistan wreck England before deluge

England were left reeling at 79 for 7 as Pakistan came tantalisingly close to causing a Women’s Cricket World Cup sensation at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo as rain set in with the match just 25 overs old.

It appeared that the Pakistan women did the best thing by winning the toss and inviting England to bat first as they plucked wicket after wicket after dismissing opener Tamsin Beaumont in the second over of the match, bowled by Diana Baig for 4 with the total at 13.

England could not recover from thereon after the other opener Amy Jones was bowled by the Pakistan captain and medium pacer Fatima Sana with the total at 22 in the following over.

Any hopes England had of making a comeback were further shattered when Fatima Sana claimed the prized wickets of Heather Knight for 18 and Nat Sciver-Brunt for 4 leaving them struggling at 39 for 4.

Sophia Dunkley (11), Emma Lamb (4) and Alice Capsey (16) were the other three England batters to be dismissed before rain set in.