The 25th edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was called off after just 4.2 overs of play at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo due to unseasonable rain, which once again got the last word in a cricket encounter. Both teams shared a point each after the players were pulled off the field by persistent rains with Pakistan at 18 without losing, and no more play could be done. The unrelenting monsoon rain that plagued the Colombo leg of the competition had already caused a two-hour and forty-five-minute delay in the toss.
The game was shortened to 34 overs per side with a seven-over Power-play as the rain briefly cleared. Under the new bowling rules, four bowlers were restricted to six overs apiece, while one bowler may bowl no more than seven overs. The match was a chance for both teams, who were already eliminated from semifinal contention, to finish their campaigns on a high note. The rain gods, however, had other ideas, as yet another match at the location ended in a washout, the fifth of its kind in Colombo this tournament.
For both players and fans, the pattern of discontent has been persistent. The Sri Lanka vs. Australia match was called off without a toss; the Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand match could only be played for one innings; the Pakistan vs. England match ended in a draw; and the Pakistan vs. New Zealand match could only be played for 25 overs. The highly anticipated match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan ended in the same way on Thursday. The bright side is that this was the tournament’s last game to be played in Colombo. Players and spectators alike will be hoping for clear skies and unbroken cricket as the remaining Women’s World Cup matches move to India.
