Torrential rain forces abandonment of second England-Pakistan ODI

Several downpours – the last coming as a much-delayed inspection finally took place to put the final, inevitable nail in an coffin – meant that there was never a realistic chance of play resuming after the first batch came shortly after 11.30am

Nick Friend | 26/05/2024 at 15:14

Taunton: Pakistan 29-0, England - match abandoned

The second women's ODI between England and Pakistan was abandoned shortly after 3pm on Sunday, with just 6.5 overs bowled.

Several downpours, some of them torrential – the last coming as a much-delayed inspection finally took place to put the final, inevitable nail in an coffin – meant that there was never a realistic chance of play resuming after the first batch came shortly after 11.30am.

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^{Sophie Ecclestone shelled a chance at slip off Lauren Filer in what little play was possible (Michael Steele/Getty Images)}

There were sizeable puddles on various parts of the outfield from the time that the first rain fell, and each time an inspection was announced – pending no rain in the meantime – the weather quickly reverted to type.

In truth, the end could have come sooner, though a final cut-off time of 4.43pm kept the nominal possibility alive of a 20-over game.

We are done here. You can no longer see the other end of the ground. pic.twitter.com/VZXcnQ7r9C
— Nick Friend (@NickFriend1) May 26, 2024

Pakistan had won the toss at 10.30pm and surprisingly opted to bat first. They were 29 without loss when play was curtailed, with Sidra Ameen dropped at first slip by Sophie Ecclestone and Sadaf Shamas edging another Lauren Filer delivery through the slip cordon for a boundary.

Ameen also survived a runout attempt from mid-on, but that was the extent of the action on a miserable, cold afternoon at Taunton. Meanwhile, Sophia Dunkley was recalled to the squad for the remainder of the series but wasn't named in England's playing XI on Sunday. The series concludes on Wednesday at Chelmsford.

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