ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, England vs Pakistan: 5 Talking Points

After a brief delay due to rain, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first in gloomy conditions at Leicester. That decision backfired though as the England women put on a sensational batting performance.

They dispatched the Pakistani bowlers all over the ground and amassed 377 runs on the board. Captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver notched up tons, while Danielle Wyatt and Fran Wilson played crucial cameos.

It was always going to be an impossible chase for Pakistan. To make things worse, they lost Nahida Khan and the ever-dependable Javeria Khan cheaply. Opener Ayesha Zafar led a fightback accompanied by Nain Abidi, but play was interrupted by rain yet again and in the end, England won by 107 runs on the DLS method.

Here are the five major talking points from today’s game:

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#1 England rake up second-highest team total in tournament history

England’s total of 377 was the second-highest team total in the history of the Women’s World Cup. The record for the highest total is held by Australia, who, in what was one of the greatest mismatches of all, put up 412 for 3 in 50 overs against Denmark in the 1997 World Cup.

377 is England’s highest ever score in the tournament’s history and their second highest overall. Previously, they had scored 378 runs against the same opposition in Worcester last year. Interestingly, seven out of the top 10 highest team totals in Women’s ODI cricket have come against Pakistan.

Although the England women endured a poor start today, Sciver’s fearless hitting and Wyatt and Wilson’s innovative batting down the order ensured a huge score. In the final 15 overs, 158 runs were scored.

#2 Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver post second highest partnership in Women’s ODIs

Both Knight and Sciver scored their maiden ODI centuries

Today’s game saw two batters, Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver, notch up their maiden centuries in ODIs. England had lost two wickets in the opening 10 overs and things weren’t looking very good for them.

However, Knight and Sciver played exceptionally well. Knight was her own composed self throughout her innings while Sciver was aggressive right from the word go. The contrasting approach of the two batswomen worked perfectly and the Pakistani bowlers were taken to the cleaners.

By the time she was dismissed for 106, Knight had hit 12 fours and two sixes in her 109-ball innings. Sciver, on the other hand, scored a ruthless 92-ball 137, an innings comprising 14 fours and four hits over the ropes.

The 213-run partnership that the two shared is the second highest in Women’s ODIs. Earlier this year, India’s Deepti Sharma and Punam Raut enjoyed a 320-run partnership, which is the highest in women’s cricket.

#3 Ayesha Zafar only positive for Pakistan

Ayesha Zafar led a solo fightback

The Pakistan women’s team slumped to their second successive defeat at the World Cup and their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals now appear bleak. The silver lining in an otherwise dismal performance, though, was Ayesha Zafar’s resilient innings.

Chasing 378 was impossible, but Pakistan hoped they could get close. They might have even hoped for rain to interrupt the game in which scenario scoring just about a run-a-ball with wickets in hand would have helped them get to the par score after 20 overs.

However, three of their batswomen were dismissed cheaply. Their chances were dealt a heavy blow but Zafar led a solo fight back. She refused to bow down and played in a composed manner, waiting for the bad balls and dispatching them to the fence. In her 77-ball 56, she hit eight boundaries and was the only Pakistani batter who posed any threat.

#4 Going in with three spinners turns out to be catastrophic for Pakistan

England batters made merry

Pakistan decided to go into the match with the same combination from the previous game. All the three spinners, Sana Mir, Sadia Yousuf and Nashra Sandhu, had bowled well in the narrow loss to South Africa and were given the nod once again.

Eventually, it was this decision that proved to be catastrophic. After rain had delayed the start, captain Sana Mir did not hesitate to put England in to bat first in gloomy weather conditions. The two fast bowlers, Asmaiva Iqbal and Kainat Imtiaz, gave them a good start, restricting the English batswomen whilst picking up two early wickets.

However, when the spinners came on to bowl, the entire pressure was released. Mir, Yousuf and Sandhu failed to contain the flow of runs in the middle overs. With none of them getting any assistance from the wicket, both Knight and Sciver made merry and scored freely.

#5 No third umpire leaves people shocked

Tammy Beaumont was given an early reprieve due to the absence of a third umpire to review an LBW shout

Just yesterday, the West Indies batter Chedean Nation escaped a close run-out call against Australia as there was no third umpire in place. Today as well the absence of a TV umpire and DRS were the talking points of the rain-curtailed game.

One major point of controversy came when England opener Tammy Beaumont was adjudged not out by on-field umpire Chris Brown in the eighth over. Kainat Imtiaz’s ball had swung in to leave the batswoman all at sea. The ball thudded onto the pads, seemingly right in front of the wickets, but the umpire shook his head nonchalantly.

A review would have probably sent her on her way. It didn’t cost Pakistan much, though, as Beaumont was dismissed just an over later, by Imtiaz herself. Nevertheless, many people came out in criticism of the ICC for not employing a third umpire in a World Cup match.

Wow they r proving that they r not less than men..but in previous matches..no third umpire is available for a match...what the hellis that

— Mulagada Sai (@mulagada_sai) June 27, 2017

Woman's International cricket match with no third umpire is disgraceful! Especially a World Cup match! #discrimination #ENGVPAK

— Megan Michelle (@Meg_Mitchie) June 27, 2017

@ICC Are you really kidding us? There is no Third Umpire in today's match? Why such discrimination? No DRS? No softwares ? @mir_sana05

— Moiz Mohsin (@moizmohsin7) June 27, 2017