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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
James Wallace

England beat Pakistan by nine wickets: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup – as it happened

Danni Wyatt Hear Knight Pakistan England Karine Brunt Nida Dar Sophie Ecclestone Tammy Beaumont Kate Cross Fatima Sana
England's Danni Wyatt on the way to victory over Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
England's Danni Wyatt on the way to victory over Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup match at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Photograph: Sanka Vidanagama/AFP/Getty Images

Three on the bounce

England chalk up their third win on the reel to edge into fourth place in the overall standings. They’ve given themselves a decent shot of making the semi-finals. Who would have given them odds for that just a few short weeks ago after having tanked in their opening three matches?

No team has gone on to win a World Cup after chalking up two (or more!) losses in their first couple of games, Heather Knight’s side could make history. But let’s not get carried away, they still have to do the business against Bangladesh at the weekend. And there’s the small matter of an unbeaten Australian juggernaut looming ominously on the horizon.

Pakistan were poor with the bat, never recovering from losing a wicket to the first ball of the match and a failure to rotate the strike throughout their innings meant that England were never under any pressure. Even the blisteringly good early bowling from Diana Baig at the start of their response wasn’t enough to curtail them for long.

The England camp will be heartened to see Katherine Brunt back in the wickets and Danni Wyatt the runs as they head into the sharp end of the tournament. Their consistent performers - Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone and Knight herself all showed their class once more.

That’s all from me. Thanks for your company and see you for another OBO very soon.

Goodbye!

Updated

England won with 30 overs to spare and so they sneak into fourth place in the table, just ahead of India. The big question is can they stay there and secure a semi-final spot?

Updated

England win by nine wickets!

Wyatt helps a leg side ball to the boundary and England have made quick work of that chase! The opening batter is immediately awarded POTM for her sparkling 72* off 66 balls.

19.2 overs: England 107-1 (Wyatt 72*, Knight 24*)

19th over: England 102-1 (Wyatt 72, Knight 24) Shot! Wyatt plays a lofted drive in-to-out over the covers for four. She’s looked better as this innings has gone on. England pilfer 8 runs from the over and need just 4 more runs to wrap up a thumping win.

18th over: England 94-1 (Wyatt 67, Knight 21) Nearly all over now! Wyatt helps herself to ten runs from the over - a full toss from Dar is gladly thwocked to the fence and a full ball is lofted down the ground for four more. A couple more follow off a deft sweep. Lovely innings this from Wyatt. 12 needed for England.

17th over: England 84-1 (Wyatt 57, Knight 21) A deft paddle from Knight brings her three runs to fine leg. Wyatt picks up a couple, cutting and flicking. 22 runs needed.

16th over: England 78-1 (Wyatt 56, Knight 16) Nida Dar twirls away and Wyatt is charging down to flat bat her in the air, the ball creeping over the head of mid-off and landing safe. Next up, Wyatt clubs into the leg side to pick up two to deep square-leg. England in a hurry here.

15th over: England 72-1 (Wyatt 50, Knight 16) Fifty for Danni Wyatt! Well batted. She’s played her shots (7 fours) and taken risks, breaking the back of this run chase before any real pressure was allowed to build. Decent time to hit form too. Sandhu continues around the wicket and keeps Knight honest. 15 overs done, England need just 34 runs from 35 overs.

14th over: England 71-1 (Wyatt 49, Knight 16) fifty partnership for Wyatt and Knight, they’ve been clinical here. Job two thirds done.

13th over: England 66-1 (Wyatt 45, Knight 15) Nashra Sandhu is on to bowl some spin. England content to milk 5 runs from her first over.

12th over: England 61-1 (Wyatt 41, Knight 14) Aliya Riaz is into the attack with her somewhat slooow slingers. Knight works her first ball away for three runs, a couple of singles precede a brace of wides chucked well outside the tramlines. Not the best change this for Pakistan. The pressure well and truly off. Three more singles and it’s ten taken, easily, from the over.

11th over: England 51-1 (Wyatt 38, Knight 9) Baig continues, Knight picks up a single with a dab to backward point and Wyatt gives the charge... she doesn’t get it, the ball plugs in the verdant turf, but it brings a couple. Fifty up for England.

10th over: England 48-1 (Wyatt 36, Knight 8) Anwer drops short again and Wyatt smears her through mid-wicket again. Four more. Great little cameo this from Wyatt, she’s getting runs and settling English nerves. An edge then flies past the keeper for four more, streaky but Wyatt won’t mind - she’s rattled along to 36 from 32 balls. A couple of singles make it ten from the tenth.

9th over: England 38-1 (Wyatt 27, Knight 7) Knight gets a single and Wyatt flays Baig’s final ball away for three more. England batting positively in spite of the tight bowling from Baig.

8th over: England 34-1 (Wyatt 24, Knight 4) Wyatt continues to play aggressively, she gives a full ball outside off stump an absolute clobbering - SMACK! That’s the hardest hit shot of the day so far, or at least it sounded it, the ball racing away to the fence too.

7th over: England 30-1 (Wyatt 20, Knight 4) Baig bowls two jaffas to Heather Knight, pitched up and zipping past the edge. You’d do well to edge either of those, Skip. Knight then leans on a slightly fuller one to pick up a welcome two into the covers. The final ball is speared in full and Knight does well to jam the blade down on it. Yeeesh. Some opening spell this from Baig.

6th over: England 28-1 (Wyatt 20, Knight 4) Aiman Anwer into her work. Knight rocks back and punches into the gap to bring up three through the covers. Wyatt then climbs into a short ball and clatters it away into the leg-side for four.

5th over: England 21-1 (Wyatt 16, Knight 1) Baig squares up Heather Knight with her first delivery, the ball hooping, taking the edge and squirting away for a single. Pakistan have got their dander up here, no doubt sensing some nerves in the England camp.

Wicket! Beaumont lbw b Baig 2 (England 20-1)

Beaumont plays around a straight one and is given out on review!

4th over: England 20-0 (Beaumont 2, Wyatt 16) Drop! Wyatt is put down at backward point by Nida Dar. A diving chance but the fielder had it in her grasp... until she landed and the ball plopped out onto the turf. Wyatt responds with three consecutive boundaries! The first - a short armed jab behind square is followed by an aerial drive in the gap and a tickle off the hips to fine leg. 12 runs off the over.

3rd over: England 6-0 (Beaumont 2, Wyatt 2) Baig beats Wyatt with a peach first up. Wyatt then picks up a single thanks to a misfield in the ring. Baig looks threatening, again whirring one past the edge, Beaumont this time drawn in to playing.

2nd over: England 5-0 (Beaumont 2, Wyatt 1) Fatima Sana begins from around the wicket. Touching 64mph in her first over. Wyatt squeezes one away down to third man to get her knock started. Tight lines from the seamer. Just a couple from it.

1st over: England 3-0 (Beaumont 1, Wyatt 0) Hint of movement from Baig. Beaumont drops and runs to get off the mark. The seamer then loses her radar with a couple of wides down the leg-side. But also beats Wyatt with one on the angle.

South Africa qualify. Just two more semi-final spots up for grabs. England will want to do this quickly and keep their NRR looking healthy in case of any mathematical shenanigans down the line.

It’s gone a bit gloomy in Christchurch as the clouds have rolled on. The players are out on the park, under lights. Danni Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont will get the chase under way for England. Diana Baig has the ball for Pakistan. It looks as though it will swing given the conditions. Pakistan need to make early inroads.

Katherine Brunt speaks: “It’s no mystery that I’ve been struggling recently for form but that’s sport in general. I’m just really happy that I turned up and contributed today”.

She set the tone with a wicket off the very first ball of the game.

Updated

WICKET! Baig is bowled by Ecclestone for 6...

Pakistan are all out for 105. England were very good with the ball there, clinical, clever and didn’t let Pakistan off the hook once they had them on the ropes. I’m mixing my metaphors but it is ten to four in the AM.

Back soon for the CHASE!

41st over: Pakistan 105-9 (Baig 6, Sandhu 1) Cross nearly finishes it off but Nat Sciver can’t quite get to a catch that is spooned up into the leg side by Baig.

40th over: Pakistan 102-9 (Baig 4, Sandhu 0) Ton up for Pakistan. For the cost of nine wickets. Ah.

WICKET! Aiman Anwer ct Jones b Ecclestone 0 (Pakistan 102-9)

Another one gone! Anwer gets a tiny tickle through to Amy Jones who takes a fine catch stood up to the stumps. Excellent finish here from England.

39th over: Pakistan 99-8 (Baig 0, Aiman Anwar 0) Cross has 1-16 from her seven overs.

Wicket! Sidra b Cross 23 (Pakistan 99-8)

Kate Cross removes leg stump with an in-ducker! She’s deserved that. Two more wickets needed for England to finish Pakistan off.

Wicket! Fatima Sana ct Jones b Ecclestone 4 (Pakistan 95-7)

Ecclestone snares her first! She gets one to turn and Sana goes for an expansive stroke but just manages to get a feint edge which is well snaffled by Amy Jones stood up to the stumps.

38th over: Pakistan 95-7 (Sidra 20, Baig 0)

37th over: Pakistan 94-6 (Sidra 19, Fatima Sana 4) Just a couple from Knight’s over. England happy to speed through the overs here for very little damage.

36th over: Pakistan 92 -6 (Sidra 18, Fatima Sana 3) A maiden from Ecclestone. On the button.

35th over: Pakistan 92 -6 (Sidra 18, Fatima Sana 3) Better over for Pakistan, five off Knight. Can they eke their way to a tricksy little total and put some pressure back on England with the ball?

34th over: Pakistan 87-6 (Sidra 14, Fatima Sana 2) A couple and a wide off Ecclestone. This England pair are rattling through the overs.

Updated

33rd over: Pakistan 84-6 (Sidra 13, Fatima Sana 1) A streaky four and a single off the remainder of Knight’s over.

Updated

Wicket Aliya Riaz c Shrubsole b Knight 9 (Pakistan 79-6)

Heather Knight brings herself on for a bowl and she is gifted a wicket with her second ball! Riaz sweeps tamely straight into the hands of Anya Shrubsole on the ‘45.

32nd over: Pakistan 78-5 (Aliya Riaz 9, Sidra 8) Two singles and a leg bye off Ecclestone. None of which hurt England.

31st over: Pakistan 75-5 (Aliya Riaz 8, Sidra 7) Sciver starts back after lunch and there’s just a single taken.

Kettle on, toes un-stubbed. Silence. Success.

30th over: Pakistan 74-5 (Aliya Riaz 8, Sidra 6) Three singles off Ecclestone. 30 overs done. Drinks. I’m going to pad down the way in my slippers, past the baby’s room, hopefully avoiding all the unseen trip hazards hidden in the dark, to put the kettle on. Wish me luck.

Probably not too dissimilar to this. No Connery ogling here though.

29th over: Pakistan 71-5 (Aliya Riaz 7, Sidra 4) Riaz drives uppishly but gets four. Sciver chastises herself for giving too much width outside off, overcompensating for a leg-side wide first up. The rest of the over is full o’dots though.

28th over: Pakistan 65-5 (Aliya Riaz 3, Sidra 4) Ecclestone, plait swaying in the breeze. Just two singles and a leg-side wide.

Meanwhile...

Covid restrictions lifted in New Zealand and nice to see decent crowds in:

27th over: Pakistan 62-5 (Aliya Riaz 2, Sidra 3) Sciver takes over from Brunt... and starts with a maiden.

26th over: Pakistan 62-5 (Aliya Riaz 2, Sidra 3)The World’s Number One Bowler - Sophie Ecclestone is on for a twirl and it’s the first sight of spin. Riaz and Sidra seem to be busier at the crease, looking to rotate strike and keep the scoreboard ticking. Three from Ecclestone’s first.

Updated

25th over: Pakistan 59-5 (Aliya Riaz 1, Sidra 1) Sidra Nawaz joins Aliya Riaz at the crease, the two new batters need to get a partnership going to give their bowlers something to work with or else England are going to canter this.

Updated

Wicket! Amin b Brunt 32 (Pakistan 58-5)

Brunt has three as she sneaks one through Amin (between a sizeable gap between bat and pad in fairness) to send the bails skywards! Pakistan lose their set batter too. All sorts of strife for them here.

Updated

24th over: Pakistan 53-4 (Amin 28, Aliya Riaz 0) Pakistan hit a boundary! First runs in 19 balls and first boundary in 55. Still, credit where it’s due, a nice whip away from Amin to the mid-wicket rope. Five dots make up the rest of Cross’ over. Pakistan unable to rotate strike, it’s tough going for them at the moment.

Wicket! Dar b Brunt 4 (Pakistan 53-4)

Something did give! Brunt joins the dots with her first three balls and then pins Dar in front as the batter goes down onto her haunches to try and sweep the ball away but it is just too full. A review confirms it as Umpires Call and so remains out!

A wicket maiden for Brunt. England all over this.

23rd over: Pakistan 53-4 (Amin 28, Aliya Riaz 0)

22nd over: Pakistan 53-3 (Amin 28, Dar 4) Kate Cross does her thing. DotDotDotDotDot and... Dot. Death by Dots. Dotageddon. We do DotDotDot Kate, we do DOTDOT. Something’s gotta give soon huh? I’m going dotty.

21st over: Pakistan 53-3 (Amin 28, Dar 4) Brunt is back into the attack for another burst, she keeps it tight, just a couple picked up from the over.

20th over: Pakistan 51-3 (Amin 27, Dar 3) Still no boundary to break the shackles, Cross will bowl and bowl and bowl and bowl here, blotting up an end as is her wont.

19th over: Pakistan 48-3 (Amin 24, Dar 1) England have 9 fielders inside the ring but Pakistan can’t put any pressure back onto the fielding side by going over the top. Just a couple off Sciver’s latest. The run rate is only a smidge over 2.5.

18th over: Pakistan 46-3 (Amin 24, Dar 1) After 15 dots in a row Dar scores a single for her side and gets off the mark in the process. More intent from the batters as they scamper a two and take a well judged quick single off the last.

17th over: Pakistan 42-3 (Amin 21, Dar 0) Sciver makes it back to back maidens. Miserly stuff from England since drinks.

16th over: Pakistan 42-3 (Amin 21, Dar 0) Kate Cross joins the attack and she is straight into her accurate and wily ways, keeping new batter Nida Dar honest with a maiden.

Updated

15th over: Pakistan 42-3 (Amin 21, Dar 0) Amin plays the shot of the day so far, a straight drive back past Nat Sciver for four! And another! A cover drive this time. Beautiful batting. And that’s drinks. England will enjoy their slurp of high performance liquid the most.

Updated

Wicket! Sohail run out Beaumont 11 (Pakistan 33-3)

Tammy Beaumont swoops at mid-off and pings the stumps with a diving direct hit. There wasn’t a run on really, Sohail has to go this time!

13th over: Pakistan 33-2 (Amin 12, Sohail 11) Drop! In fact, trade-descriptions would have something to say to the two Sophs - Dunkley and Ecclestone - as they both stare at each other as a dolly from Sohail plops down between them. Either of them could have caught it one handed and have time to high five the other or play a round of rock, paper, scissors. A bit of sloppiness creeping in for England.

12th over: Pakistan 31-2 (Amin 11, Sohail 10) Shrubsole continues, after three dots Sohail advances down the wicket to try and loft her away but doesn’t really get a decent connection, the ball looping over the fielders. Run out chance! Dunkley pulls off a neat stop in the covers but throws to the wrong end from her sprawled position on the floor. A let off for Pakistan.

11th over: Pakistan 29-2 (Amin 10, Sohail 9) These two batters are re-building nicely after that double clatter early on. Just a single off Sciver’s first. The runs are not hurting England (yet) though.

10th over: Pakistan 28-2 (Amin 10, Sohail 8) Ten overs reeled off in no time. Powerplay done and dusted, Nat Sciver is coming on for a whirl.

9th over: Pakistan 27-2 (Amin 10, Sohail 7)Shot! Amin down on one knee to peel off a classical cover drive against Brunt. No need to run for that. Brunt keeps it full though, looking to exploit this early movement. Nothing more doing off the over.

8th over: Pakistan 23-2 (Amin 6, Sohail 7) Shrubsole sends down an absolute beauty that beats everything! Full and straightens at the last to whizz past the outside edge and pass within a sweet nothing of the off stump. Just a single off the over.

7th over: Pakistan 22-2 (Amin 5, Sohail 7) Two slips still in place. Brunt takes the edge again but it goes straight down off Amin’s bat and trickles away between said slips. Three runs. Brunt is full and zoning in on stumps and knee roll. This is the best she has bowled all tournament.

6th over: Pakistan 19-2 (Amin 2, Sohail 7) Omaina Sohail gets off the mark with a nice looking drive that pulls up just short of the rope, the outfield is lush and a little slow. Pakistan pick up three. Sohail unfurls another drive and this is timed more sweetly than the last, beating a diving Beaumont to the fence for four. Lovely shot (s).

5th over: Pakistan 11-2 (Amin 1, Sohail 0) Brunt has it on a string. Six dots. A maiden.

Wicket! Bismah run out Jones/Dunkley 9 (Pakistan 11-2)

England have looked sprightly in the field and well and truly up for this match, Bismah tries to come back for a risky second run but some quick work by Amy Jones scampering after the ball and Sophie Dunkley at the stumps sees her run out by half a foot. Or a full foot. Depending on how big your feet are. Ah Ian Smith on comms reckons it was four inches. Let’s go with that.

4th over: Pakistan 11-2 (Amin 1, Sohail 0)

3rd over: Pakistan 8-1 (Amin 1, Bismah 6) Brunt keeps it full and a second slip is brought in by the skipper. Good attacking cricket from England. A drive for a couple and a flick away for a single from Bismah.

ChuckleChuckleChuckle

2nd over: Pakistan 5-1 (Amin 1, Bismah 3) Anya Shrubsole to start from t’other end.... and she is getting vast amounts of swing through the air. Loads of the stuff. She keeps it full, enticing the drive. A couple off it.

1st over: Pakistan 3-1 (Amin 0, Bismah 2) What a start for England. Brunt nearly has another too off the final ball of the over! Another knick but this time wide of a diving Knight in the slips. Get another one in there Heather! The ball looks to be moving around out there. I’m awake. You?

WICKET! Khan c Knight b Brunt 0 (Pakistan 0-1)

BRUNT GETS ONE WITH THE FIRST BALL OF THE MATCH! Full, a bit of nibble away and Nahida Khan pokes forward in front of her body and gets a thick edge to Heather Knight at slip! Brunt has arms outstretched. That’ll do.

The players have sung the anthems and done their huddles. Katherine Brunt has the new ball. Nahida Khan and Sidra Amin are opening up for Pakistan. Let’s play!

Updated

Emma Lamb in, Charlie Dean misses out for England.

Updated

England win the toss and will bowl first

Clear and bright in Christchurch but Heather Knight has spotted a smattering of ‘live’ grass on the wicket and chosen to ask Pakistan to have first dig.

Preamble

Hello and welcome to the OBO of England vs Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

It’s another must win game for Heather Knight’s side. The three early defeats in the tournament to Australia, West Indies and South Africa have seen them on the precipice, tip-toeing around the edge of elimination. Somehow they have managed to not topple off. A late wobble against New Zealand in their previous game, one in which they were coasting, laid bare their predicament – they simply can’t afford any more slip ups. Think a trapeze artist over a pool of piranha or Indiana Jones on that rickety bridge above crocodile infested waters. One slip and it’s goodbye. The gnashers could also then be out for a side that feels like it has been tottering towards the end of a cycle for a little while.

Still, a win here against Pakistan and a prospering over Bangladesh in their final first-round game on Saturday will see England more or less certain of securing a semi final spot. That’ll be some achievement considering how things began and from there, who knows? It’s not as if teams haven’t won World Cups without chucking in a few dud performances along the way, right?

“We’ve managed to turn it around a little bit but still haven’t played our best cricket” said Knight in the aftermath of the nerve-jangling win over New Zealand.

“We feel like we’re building. Our message at the beginning was ‘it’s not how you start at these tournaments, but how you finish.’ Hopefully we can make that come true.”

Pakistan might be propping up the table but they are a talented side who will be buoyed by finally putting an end to an 18 match, 13 year, losing streak stretch in World Cups. Off-spinner Nida Dar twirled them to victory, snatching 4 wickets for just 10 runs in their weather-curtailed game against West Indies. England have won their last ten ODIs against Pakistan but with a World Cup and at least a few legacies on the line it promises to be an intriguing contest.

As ever do get in touch with any musings, mutterings or mirth - I’m ‘doing the double’ and will be here throughout the night from my lonely-yet-surprisingly-comfy-sofa-bed in South London. So far all I have for company is a full mug of coffee and a snoring 1year old. Neither will last that way for long.

I’ll be back with news of the teams and the toss shortly, play gets underway in Christchurch at 2pm local/1am GMT/12pm/AEDT.

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