England Women vs Pakistan Women: Rain Spoils Pakistan’s Dawn of a Historic Win
What looked to be a major evening for Pakistan women turned into a rain-affected draw during their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match against England in Colombo on October 15, 2025. Pakistan had a strong bowling performance, and England experienced a worrying batting collapse. However, rain dashed Pakistan’s hopes of securing their first victory over England, resulting in both teams sharing the points in a no-result.
A Match Burdened with Expectations
Entering Match 16 of the tournament, England were in great shape. They had won all three of their previous matches and showed strong balance in both batting and bowling. However, England faced a setback when Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell were unable to play due to illness. This increased the pressure on the remaining bowlers and their shaky middle order.
For Pakistan, this match was more than just another group game. No Pakistan women’s team had ever beaten England in ODIs. The team had struggled for consistency in the tournament, particularly with their batting. Yet, with captain Fatima Sana leading the bowling attack, the team hoped to create opportunities for their batters to succeed.
They won the toss and chose to field. They likely aimed for early swing and seam movement. England batted first in a match originally planned for 50 overs.
England’s Woes: From Collapse to Rescue
England’s innings was a rollercoaster ride. Pakistan’s attack, led by Fatima Sana, put pressure on the English top order. England found themselves at 79 for 7 in just 25 overs, which surprised both fans and analysts.
However, a late recovery, with Charlie Dean (33) and Em Arlott (18) forming a brave 47-run partnership for the eighth wicket, helped England recover to 133 for 9 in the shortened 31-over match due to rain interruptions.
Throughout the innings, the English batters struggled—they had trouble timing their shots and were unable to rotate the strike against disciplined bowling and uneven bounce.
Pakistan’s Momentum: Unfulfilled Ambitions
With a DLS-adjusted target of 113 in 31 overs, Pakistan started their chase solidly. Openers Muneeba Ali (9) and Omaima Sohail (19) helped them advance to 34 for 0 in 6.4 overs, approaching their innings with clear intent.
Just as they began to find their footing, rain returned, and heavy downpours made it impossible to continue. Sadly for Pakistan, they did not meet the minimum 20 overs required for a result under DLS rules, leading to the match being abandoned.
With the match swinging in their favor, this was heartbreaking for Pakistan. Fans and analysts alike felt they had missed a golden opportunity for a historic win.
Big Picture & Implications
- England salvaged a vital point: Despite a poor batting performance and missing key bowlers, England remains unbeaten and is at the top of the group with 7 points, ahead of Australia on net run rate.
- Pakistan’s campaign pressure intensifies: Their first point in the tournament comes from a washout, but the ongoing challenge is to achieve consistent batting form. Their hopes for the semifinals now look increasingly slim.
- Weather woes in Colombo: Ongoing rain interruptions have raised concerns about scheduling matches during this monsoon season. Many believed Pakistan did not get a fair chance to perform at their best.
- England’s depth under the lens: While they managed to secure a point, their reliance on late recoveries and key players is evident. With tougher opponents on the horizon—India, Australia, New Zealand—they need to strengthen their middle order and adjust for the absence of key players.
