Pakistan face uphill battle in England Colombo clash
No respite for a Pakistan side on the hunt for their first win as they take on unbeaten England looking to go top again.
By Daniel Beswick in Colombo
Fatima Sana’s Pakistan continue their push for a first win at ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 in Thursday action, though will likely face little respite from an England side again eyeing off top spot on the table.
Playing a game of leapfrog with fellow unbeaten team Australia who split points with Sri Lanka in a a no-result earlier in the tournament, Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side have the chance to go four wins from four.
Pakistan brace for England juggernaut | Will To Win Preview Show | CWC25
Still eyeing their first win at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, Pakistan take on unbeaten England.
Aiming to keep their tournament hopes alive, Pakistan's greatest challenge is likely England’s skipper as they aim to prevent a four-match losing streak.
Sciver-Brunt's numbers jump out not only at the World Cup, where she made a record fifth tournament hundred in a Saturday victory over Sri Lanka, but also as a nightmare for Pakistan in the 50-over game, averaging 92.33.
Teammate Alice Capsey, in her first senior international tour of the subcontinent, and under the bright lights of her first Cricket World Cup, says her captain has shown her the blueprint of success.
“It was amazing to watch (the century against Sri Lanka)," Capsey said in the lead-up to the meeting with Pakistan.
“She's spoken a lot about what her method was, which was great. To be able to kind of get that insight into what she's thinking has been crucial.
“I think all of us as a batting unit are lapping that up and kind of taking as much information as we can get.
“It's great to then go into the next game with a bit more information and have a bit of a clearer plan and be able to really be specific with what our plans are to each different bowler against Pakistan especially.”
Sciver-Brunt leads from the front with a magnificent ton | Player Highlights | CWC25
Watch Nat Sciver-Brunt's wonderful century against Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup clash.
By contrast, it’s Pakistan’s batting that hasn’t quite come into its own, not going past 159 albeit on one of the tougher surfaces to bat on at the tournament.
Sidra Amin has made 116 runs across three innings in Colombo, though the group that stormed the Qualifier and took a match from South Africa in their lead-in series is yet to follow suit.
Pakistan's stunning takes against Australia | CWC25
Watch Pakistan's fielding efforts in their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 league match against Australia.
According to bowler Syeda Aroob Shah, there is faith and likely little change to the batting group for the upcoming clash.
“Obviously after the way we’ve played the last three matches, we have had meetings to discuss where our mistakes are and what we need to improve," Syeda said to media in Colombo ahead of the clash.
"But the combination we’ve been playing with is our winning combination, if you see the qualifiers or the series against South Africa, we had the same combination.”
Leg-spinner Syeda could come into the team for the clash to bolster the bowling ranks as Pakistan, doubling down in the tactics of taking pace off.
"We have world-class spinners like Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sundhu, and they’re bowling really well.
“I’m currently on the bench, preparing for my opportunity. As a spin group, we’re confident and looking forward to the upcoming matches because spin is our strength.
“We’re looking for a total of around 200-plus. That’s a good score we can either chase or defend. If we’re bowling first, we’ll try to restrict them under 200.
“And if we’re batting first, our batters should score at least 200-plus so we can defend the total.
