There was a silver lining to the clouds that encircled Colombo – from an English perspective, no less than.
Pakistan’s hopes of a maiden Ladies’s World Cup victory over England – and their first win of the match – had been washed away as incessant rain got here to the rescue of Nat Sciver-Brunt’s floundering facet.
It spared England’s unbeaten run, with the spoils shared after the match was deserted, however their collapse with the bat raised severe questions on their World Cup-winning credentials heading right into a pivotal stage of the match.
With hosts India up subsequent and match favourites Australia to comply with, the character of England’s capitulation – plummeting to 79-7 inside 25 overs – can have set alarm bells ringing, whatever the reality they averted defeat.
After scoring a century in opposition to Sri Lanka within the earlier recreation, Sciver-Brunt’s innings got here to a swift finish as she was dismissed for 4 – and he or she delivered a brutally trustworthy evaluation of her personal and England’s efficiency.
“After the rain break we batted well to give ourselves a chance, but we weren’t very good today – weren’t good enough,” the England captain mentioned. “We’ll hold our hands up.”
Optimism was excessive as England bounded into their fourth World Cup project on the again of three straight wins.
South Africa had confirmed no match, crumbling by the hands of England’s spinners in match one. Bangladesh proved a harder nut to crack, however Heather Knight confirmed England had the bottle to beat adversity with a match-winning innings, whereas Sciver-Brunt’s run-a-ball century impressed victory over Sri Lanka.
The elements had been there for England to climb again to the highest of the standings with one other win on the expense of winless Pakistan however what transpired was an alarming return to kind.
With Knight and Sciver-Brunt falling early to Pakistan captain Fatima Rana, alternative knocked for England’s center order to step up. However they had been discovered wanting, because the wickets of Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb and Alice Capsey fell for simply 31 runs.
Requested what classes might be realized, Sciver-Brunt mentioned: “Probably adapting as quickly as possible. It was seaming quite a lot, the wicket, so I guess it’s about putting plans in place to nullify that threat.
“After the powerplay, they had been selecting up wickets – bowled, lbw – stopping us from constructing any partnerships in any respect.”
England’s next match is against India in Indore on Sunday, and concerns linger over the form of several players.
There is also illness in the camp, with Sophie Ecclestone and Lauren Bell sitting out the fixture in Colombo – a situation worth monitoring, with hopes it is not something that could ripple through the squad.
“I believe everybody’s practising rather well,” said Sciver-Brunt. “They are going by way of their processes and figuring out their very own ‘how’ on every wicket.
“I guess it’s about finding your own individual way of doing the same things you would do in practice.”
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Pakistan made a powerful begin as they tore by way of England’s high order
Other than the apparent constructive of avoiding defeat, there have been silver linings to be discovered because the rain poured in Colombo.
Pakistan’s outcomes at this World Cup have clearly belied their high quality. Sure, England had been anticipated to beat them, however having had Australia on the ropes and pushed India shut, maybe it was solely a matter of time at the start clicked into place.
The doom and gloom that descended because the heavens opened mustn’t cloud England’s total marketing campaign.
There’s even a case to be made that such an abject efficiency got here on the proper time – permitting England to flush it from their system forward of the pivotal clashes with India and Australia, and the knockout levels, which they continue to be on the right track to succeed in.
England go away Colombo with loads of meals for thought – classes that should be absorbed if their World Cup ambitions are to be realised.
England’s World Cup outcomes and fixtures
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