Rain saves Pakistan; England take series 2-0

At 145 for 8, it seemed only a miracle could save Pakistan from the prospect of a whitewash in the ODI series against England. Luckily for the hosts, the rain gods obliged, sending down a showed that saw the third and final ODI at the Kinrara Oval in Kuala Lumpur on Sauturday (December 14) washed out. England thus won the series 2-0, taking their points tally on the ICC Championship table to 29, meaning they have now directly qualified for the ODI World Cup in New Zealand in 2021.

With nothing to lose, Pakistan, sent into bat by England in overcast conditions, started positively. Nahida Khan and Javeria Khan fed on the width offered by England's opening bowling duo of Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole, collecting 22 runs in the first three overs. Pakistan's aggressive intent - that was largely absent from the batting line up through the series - seemed to catch England off guard. Nahida was particularly severe on the bowlers, peppering the off-side boundary with some wonderful drives off both front and back foot. She even brought up the team's 50 with a cheeky sweep in just the eighth over.

An opportunity came in the 13th over but Danni Wyatt shelled the chance with Nahida on 43. She then brought up her 50 off just 49 deliveries, but was unable to capitalise on the opportunity, adding only an additional five runs to her tally. Meanwhile, Javeria at the other end, began to pick up the pace once spin was introduced into the attack.

The 96-run stand - Pakistan's highest ever opening partnership in ODIs - was finally broken, courtesy Sarah Glenn. After getting tonked over her head for a boundary by Javeria, Glenn trapped her in front of the stumps with a slightly quicker delivery, for 37. Nahida was the next to depart for 55 - becoming Glenn's second victim of the day. Looking to sweep, the right-hander missed the ball completely to be trapped in front of stumps.

From then on, the England continued to chip away at the wickets, and Pakistan had no answer.

First, they got the prized scalp of in-form Bismah Maroof (7) who was caught by Amy Jones when she got a leading edge off Sophie Ecclestone's bowling while looking to flick. With the wicket of debutante Kainat Hafeez - castled by Glenn for four - Pakistan had suddenly slipped to 111 for 4. Ecclestone and Glenn had together knocked the stuffing out of Pakistan's top-order.

Nida Dar didn't last long either, missing a straight delivery from Glenn that seemed to dip on her at the last minute. Omaima Sohail and Aliya Riaz then joined hands in an attempt to resurrect the innings, but their patient partnership of 17 was broken when Riaz was castled by an inswinger from Shrubsole.

The fast-bowler then picked up two in two as England bagged the eight-wicket in 38th over. Syeda Aroob Shah saw off the hat-trick delivery before the rain came and saved Pakistan who were tottering at 145 for 8 in 37.4 overs.

Brief Scores Pakistan 145/7 in 37.4 overs (Nahida Khan 55, Javeria Khan 37; Sarah Glenn 4-18, Anya Shrubsole 3-32) vs England. No result. PoS: Heather Knight.