Rain stopped play once again in Colombo soon after Pakistan lost their third wicket against New Zealand in their ICC Women’s World Cup encounter on Saturday.
In a must-win clash to keep their faint semi-final hopes alive, Pakistan were 52-3 after 12.2 overs when rain forced the players off the field at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Earlier, Pakistan was brought into play after losing the toss and remained unchanged from their last match against England on Wednesday.
Opener Muneeba Ali got off to a flying start, hitting a boundary on the first ball of the innings by clipping a wayward delivery to get off the mark.
She also got a reprieve when she was dropped by wicketkeeper Isabella Gaze in the second over off Jess Kerr’s bowling.
However, she could not capitalize on that opportunity with a big score as she fell for just 22, soon after Pakistan lost Omaima Sohail.
Muneeba got out thanks to an excellent catch by Suzie Bates at short mid-wicket, while Omaima fell victim to Lea Tahuhu’s pace and was trapped in one that skidded.
Tahuhu continued to trouble the Pakistani batsmen with his energetic bowling, and the in-form Sidra Amin was his next scalp.
Sidra got out while cutting one straight towards point after getting a boundary on the previous one from Sophie Devine.
That was the last delivery made before the skies opened once again in the Sri Lankan capital, which has already suffered two floods this week and is in the middle of monsoon season.
When asked about her batting woes in the tournament so far, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana said at the toss: “We hope our batting is executed better today.”
For New Zealand, Lea Tahuhu replaced Bree Illing. Skipper Devine, explaining the decision to bowl first, said: “We want to have the first chance on the track, especially with the rain.”
On Wednesday, Pakistan’s hopes of a first World Cup victory were hit by rain, with their crucial match against England abandoned after a second downpour in Colombo.
Chasing a revised target of 113 to win after earlier rains reduced the match to 31 overs a side, Pakistan were on course for 34-0 in 6.4 overs when the rains returned to end any chance of the match being completed, saving England from their first defeat against the Green Shirts.
Opener Omaima Sohail said on Friday that the team was still waiting for a chance to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
The Kiwis also come into the match with a loss against Sri Lanka on Tuesday. The match was called off after Sri Lanka scored a discouraging first batting of 258-6.
Equipment:
Pakistan: Omaima Sohail, Muneeba Ali, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Sidra Nawaz (bearer), Fatima Sana (captain), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal.
New Zealand: Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (captain), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson and Lea Tahuhu.
