Pakistan-England 2nd Women’s ODI abandoned due to rain

TAUNTON: The second ODI between Pakistan and England’s women’s teams was abandoned due to persistent rain here on Sunday.

Pakistan women’s team opted to bat first after winning the toss and scored 29 runs in 6.5 overs before the rain halted the play.

Notably, England are leading the three-match series against Pakistan 1-0, part of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Championship.

As a result of the wash-out, both teams got one point each after the second match. England are placed third, while Pakistan are sitting in fifth position in the ICC Women’s Championship points table.

England defeated the visitors by 37 runs in the series opener in Derby on Thursday, thanks to Sophie Ecclestone’s economical bowling figures of 3/26.

Put into bat first, England notched up a commendable total of 243/9 in the allotted 50 overs despite Nida Dar’s three wickets.

In-form Alice Capsey top-scored for the home side with a gutsy 44-run knock with the help of three boundaries.

Besides her, wicketkeeper Amy Jones made a notable contribution with her 38-ball 37. Jones was closely followed by opener Tammy Beaumont (33), Nat Sciver-Brunt (31) and skipper Heather Knight (29).

For Pakistan, Nida Dar picked up three wickets, followed by Aliya Riaz, Nashra Sandhu and Umm-e-Hani, who bagged two wickets each.

Set to chase 244, Pakistan women only managed 206/9 despite a decent start to the pursuit.

Pakistan women’s batters had trouble scoring freely against a disciplined England bowling attack.

Muneeba Ali top-scored for the touring side with a 34 but conceded 60 deliveries in the process and struck only one boundary.

Besides her, opening batter Sadaf Shams (28 off 48) and wicketkeeper batter Najiha Alive (26 off 57) were the other batters, who scored at a dismal strike rate.

Skipper Nida Dar (26) and all-rounder Aliya Riaz (21) also chipped in but their efforts too, were not enough to steer Pakistan to victory.

Sophie Ecclestone picked up three wickets while Kate Cross, Lauren Bell and Charlie Dean took two wickets apiece.

The third ODI is scheduled to be played on 29 May in Chelmsford.

Pakistan women squad: Nida Dar (c), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani and Waheeda Akhtar.

England women ODI squad: Heather Knight (c), Alice Capsey, Amy Jones, Charlie Dean, Danielle Wyatt, Kate Cross, Lauren Bell, Lauren Filer, Maia Bouchier, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sarah Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone and Tammy Beaumont.