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Pakistan came agonisingly close to their maiden limited-overs win versus the English side at the Colombo venue this Wednesday, arriving at an unbeaten 34 going after a DLS-adjusted target of 113 ahead of pouring rain halted their chances to create history.

England's Batting Woes

England’s batting has faltered from crisis to crisis during this World Cup – they needed rescuing by Heather Knight against Bangladesh and Nat Sciver-Brunt's performance versus Sri Lanka – in this match it appeared that their vulnerabilities would return to haunt them, as they collapsed to a precarious 79/7 within the initial 25 overs.

Showers and Resumption

Following an early weather interruption lasting nearly four hours, England came back to add 54 further runs – yet the Pakistani openers Muneeba Ali and Omaima Sohail seemed to be handling easily the pursuit, aided by the non-participation of England's main bowlers Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone because of illness. Only additional rainfall spared England embarrassment.

"Pakistan delivered exceptional bowling and posed serious challenges for us to get into the game at all,” the England captain the captain stated to Sky Sports. "Our performance was insufficient and we acknowledge our shortcomings. Everyone’s practising really well and perhaps it's a matter of discovering a method to perform similarly during games.”

Competition Consequences

The washed-out game means that England stay on track to progress to the semi-finals provided they secure victory one out of their remaining three preliminary games against India, Australia and New Zealand.

Playing Surface and Bowling Excellence

This tournament has up to now been a spinner’s paradise, but here there was substantial movement that posed difficulties for England's top batsmen, after massive rainfall a day before that abandoned the remaining portion of the Sri Lanka game with New Zealand. Pakistan’s young captain Captain Sana delivered an outstanding spell with figures of 5-1-19-3, comprising a wicket-taking maiden at the start, dismissing Amy Jones through the gate using an inswinging delivery.

Crucial Instances and Review System

Knight again rescued herself with a timely DRS review facing Sana which was missing leg stump, only for the Pakistan captain to strike twice in the following over with two further hooping deliveries – one which the captain deflected onto her wickets, and a subsequent delivery that struck Knight plumb in front.

Before this, Beaumont had shouldered arms to Diana Baig and was dismissed by a nip-backer that grazed the top of her off-stump, while it was the left-arm spin of Sadia Iqbal that dismissed Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb.

Competition Organization Concerns

Doubts might emerge about the decision to organize a portion of the tournament at Colombo during monsoon season, considering this is the third washout on this pitch – however England will merely feel relieved as they progress to Indore.