That’s enough from me – Raf Nicholson’s report should be with you all rather soon. Go well!
Table-topper.
#ENGvPAK https://t.co/oGkkvO403w pic.twitter.com/HiOExH0MmK
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) May 29, 2024
Some rather obvious news: Nat Sciver-Brunt is the Player of the Match. Ecclestone is the Player of the Series and she’s asked by Charles Dagnall if she sets targets, if she’s looking at the next 100 ODI wickets in front of her. “I think I just want to win a World Cup or an Ashes to be honest, I’ve not won one yet,” she replies.
The landmark moment – with a wonderful delivery to get there.
Sophie Ecclestone's 100th ODI wicket! 🔥
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 29, 2024
She never stops amazing us 👏#EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/GcX8VjyoTn
That’s a thoroughly dominant performance from England, instigated by Nat Sciver-Brunt’s century. She decided to make an impact with the ball, too, taking two for 11 from five overs. The job was mostly done before Sophie Ecclestone showed up to finish it, claiming her 100th ODI wicket in the process and moving on to 101 not long after.
England win the third ODI by 178 runs!
Aliya tries to go inside-out over cover against Ecclestone again but finds the sub fielder Sophia Dunkley. Nida Dar won’t bat because of a dodgy hammy, so England have the match and a 2-0 series victory.
29th over: Pakistan 124-8 (Diana 0, Aliya 36) Capsey continues, with England needing just one wicket to wrap this up.
28th over: Pakistan 123-8 (Diana 0, Aliya 35) There’s no hat-trick but Ecclestone can comfort herself with becoming the fastest woman to 100 ODI wickets in terms of innings bowled.
WICKET! Nashra c Knight b Ecclestone 0 (Pakistan 123-8)
Ecclestone is on a hat-trick and she has 100 ODI wickets too! It’s beautifully flighted, Nashra Sandhu pokes at it, and the edge goes to Heather Knight at slip.
WICKET! Umm-e-Hani lbw Ecclestone 4 (Pakistan 123-7)
And up goes the finger! Ecclestone traps Umm-e-Hani, who goes back and gets her bat trapped in her pad while trying to defend. Pakistan review … and it’s hitting middle stump.
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27th over: Pakistan 123-6 (Umm-e-Hani 4, Aliya 35) Capsey runs through her set quickly, conceding just one.
26th over: Pakistan 122-6 (Umm-e-Hani 3, Aliya 35) Stunning shot from Aliya, who skips down the pitch and goes inside-out over extra cover for four. And then again! She closes the over with the same stroke, playing with serious confidence against Ecclestone, the best in the world.
25th over: Pakistan 114-6 (Umm-e-Hani 3, Aliya 27) Alice Capsey gets a go with the ball and a wild no-look overthrow from Charlie Dean grants Pakistan extra runs.
24th over: Pakistan 110-6 (Umm-e-Hani 2, Aliya 24) Aliya’s timing them well, moving into the 20s with a classy cut off Ecclestone for four.
23rd over: Pakistan 104-6 (Umm-e-Hani 2, Aliya 18) Aliya shows some resistance, coming down the pitch to hit Dean for four and send Pakistan past 100.
22nd over: Pakistan 97-6 (Umm-e-Hani 0, Aliya 13) Life gets even tougher for Pakistan with the arrival of Sophie Ecclestone. She immediately finds some grip to get the ball to turn and bounce. Nida Dar, Pakistan’s skipper, can’t bat due to a hamstring injury, which makes things even worse for the visitors.
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21st over: Pakistan 96-6 (Umm-e-Hani 0, Aliya 12) Umm-e-Hani nearly pops a return catch to Dean first ball, with it just dropping short of the bowler.
WICKET! Fatima lbw Dean 0 (Pakistan 96-6)
Fatima Sana fails to make contact with a sweep off Dean and it’s given. Pakistan go upstairs … and it’s shown to be clipping the bails. The visitors are collapsing.
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WICKET! Muneeba c Bouchier b Sciver-Brunt 47 (Pakistan 95-5)
Oh dear. Muneeba’s been excellent but she gives it away on the cusp of a half-century, trying to slog Sciver-Brunt and instead popping the ball high up into the air, with Bouchier ending up in the short mid-off region to take the catch.
20th over: Pakistan 95-5 (Aliya 11, Fatima 0)
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19th over: Pakistan 93-4 (Muneeba 45, Aliya 11) Muneeba continues to attack Dean, sweeping for four before cutting away to get off strike.
18th over: Pakistan 88-4 (Muneeba 40, Aliya 11) Sciver-Brunt continues to keep it tight … until an uncharacteristic drag down outside off-stump is crunched for four by Aliya.
17th over: Pakistan 83-4 (Muneeba 39, Aliya 7) Aliya Riaz is the new batter and she dissects the covers, seizing upon a fuller delivery from Dean.
16th over: Pakistan 77-4 (Muneeba 38, Aliya 2) Nat Sciver-Brunt, not satisfied with a ton, has figures of 1-4 after three overs.
WICKET! Najiha b Sciver-Brunt 6 (Pakistan 74-4)
Sciver-Brunt hits the pads of Najiha, and England go up for a review after the umpire says no. It’s a cutter that looks to be going down the leg-side … it’s umpire’s call, projected to be clipping the top of leg stump. Oh, never mind – Sciver-Brunt bowls her next ball. It’s an off-cutter that beats the attempted leg-side wallop of Najiha.
15th over: Pakistan 74-3 (Muneeba 37, Najiha 6) Bouchier pulls off a fine stop at deep mid-wicket after Muneeba sweeps Dean; Pakistan only manage to run two. But the left-hander has four not long after, lacing the ball behind square on the off side.
14th over: Pakistan 66-3 (Muneeba 30, Najiha 5) Parsimonious work from Sciver-Brunt once again, conceding just one. Cue a break for drinks.
13th over: Pakistan 65-3 (Muneeba 29, Najiha 5) Najiha sweeps Dean hard for one and Muneeba tries the same … though her effort sees an edge pop over the keeper and run away for four. Another sweep follows from Muneeba, with the glove taking it down to fine leg for another boundary. And then a third four in a row, though this is the most convincing stroke of the lot, Muneeba coming down the pitch to strike the ball past mid-off.
12th over: Pakistan 50-3 (Muneeba 16, Najiha 4) Nat Sciver-Brunt gets the ball and because she’s Nat Sciver-Brunt she can do no wrong. A maiden.
11th over: Pakistan 50-3 (Muneeba 16, Najiha 4) Time for spin, with Charlie Dean in play. Najiha waits and waits to play a lovely last-minute dab to third for a couple. But the finger then goes up as Dean traps Najiha in front with a beautifully flighted delivery. Pakistan review … and it’s going over the stumps! Too much bounce there; there was beautiful drift into the right-hander from Dean with it.
10th over: Pakistan 45-3 (Muneeba 14, Najiha 1) Bell gets the ball to move away from the right-handed Najiha, showing that she can mix it up from her natural inswing. It’s been a potent opening spell from Bell, with two wickets taken.
9th over: Pakistan 41-3 (Muneeba 12, Najiha 0) Muneeba’s eyes light up at a wider delivery from Cross … but can’t get any of the blade on it. Cross ends the over by getting Najiha’s outside edge … but the ball drops short of Jones behind the stumps.
8th over: Pakistan 40-3 (Muneeba 11, Najiha 0) Muneeba sees a bit of width and slaps with serious intent through point for a boundary – Pakistan haven’t had any trouble finding the ropes. The left-hander then nearly chops on, instead hitting the ball on to her left foot. Ouch.
7th over: Pakistan 35-3 (Muneeba 6, Najiha 0) England haven’t done anything extraordinary here; Pakistan have just played some rather ordinary shots to get out, undoing much of their good work inbetween.
WICKET! Ayesha c Dean b Cross 13 (Pakistan 35-3)
Oh dear. Ayesha was stroking it around well but she just plops a pull shot straight into the hands of mid-wicket for a very simple grab.
Updated
6th over: Pakistan 34-2 (Muneeba 5, Ayesha 13) With Pakistan having had some fun through the leg side so far, Ayesha goes the other way, squeezing the ball past point for a boundary. A beautifully timed off-drive follows, with the fielder at mid-off diverting it to the boundary. Pakistan are going at a decent lick here despite those two wickets.
5th over: Pakistan 25-2 (Muneeba 5, Ayesha 5) Ayesha shows off a fine straight bat to defend Cross, but then nearly gives it away with a loose fling at a wide one next up. A leading edge follows but evades the fielders on the off side. Muneeba completes the over with the shot of the innings so far, a lovely clip through square leg for four.
4th over: Pakistan 19-2 (Muneeba 0, Ayesha 4) Ayesha Zafar is the new batter and she whips the ball through square leg for four to get herself going.
WICKET! S Ameen c Bouchier b Bell 10 (Pakistan 14-2)
Ameen’s in fine touch, hitting Bell so straight she knocks over the stumps at the non-striker’s end … and I’ve put the curse on her. Bell goes full, Ameen tries to flick through the leg-side and a leading edge pops to Maia Bouchier in the covers.
3rd over: Pakistan 13-1 (Muneeba 0, S Ameen 10) Ameen and Muneeba run hard as the former hits back-to-back twos. The right-hander then plays a delightful pull shot for four, Pakistan’s first boundary of the day.
2nd over: Pakistan 4-1 (Muneeba 0, S Ameen 1) Bell now gets to move the ball away from the left-handed Muneeba Ali, thundering in from around the wicket.
WICKET! Sadaf b Bell 2 (Pakistan 4-1)
Sidra Ameen gets off the mark with one behind square on the off side. And then Sadaf departs to Lauren Bell! A dodgy-looking pull shot sees her drag the ball on to her stumps and England have an early breakthrough.
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1st over: Pakistan 2-0 (Sadaf 1, S Ameen 0) Cross unleashes a gorgeous outswinger with her second ball, just evading the outside edge of Sadaf Shamas. Two slips are waiting alongside Amy Jones for the catch. The seamer collects a maiden … or not. She oversteps with her final ball of the over, and the free hit is a long hop pulled away for a single.
Kate Cross has the new ball. Let’s play!
Just before we get going again … England weren’t particularly on it with the ball in the opening ODI, giving up 40 extras – Pakistan’s top-scorer in their chase. Leg-side wides were a common sight, with Sophie Ecclestone – England’s cheat code – bailing them out with her three wickets. They’ve got more on the board this time round, but Heather Knight will no doubt want a more controlled effort in the field.
Afternoon all! I’ll be here to take you through the rest of the action, with Pakistan needing to pull off the spectacular to celebrate a first ever ODI win over England. But before we get going … I’ll make myself a much-needed cup of tea.
Time for me to hand over to Taha Hashim for the runchase, which should begin in 20 minutes or so. Thanks for your company – bye!
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s verdict
It was fun. I had a bit of a tricky period (starts laughing) from about 80 to 90 when I played too many shots, but on the whole I’m really happy.
Me and Alice went through the same little stage (of playing too many shots), so we tried to calm ourselves down and stick to what we were doing before that.
I’d say 302 is a good total. I’m not very good at guessing par! But getting 300 has to be good. I’ve been told it grips here, so with the bowlers that we have, I’d say we’re on for defending it.
I’m fit to bowl, yeah. I’m a bit tired so I’m not sure how my five overs will come out! But it’ll be nice to have the ball back in hand.
Pakistan need 303 to win
Nat Sciver-Brunt walks off to a standing ovation after the latest demonstration of her genius: 124 not out from 117 balls with 14 fours and two sixes. That included a late-innings lull, when she barely middled a thing for half an hour, and finally a burst of 30 from the last nine deliveries. She’s a true great; by the time she retires, she might be England’s greatest.
50th over: England 302-5 (Sciver-Brunt 124, Capsey 40) A full toss from Sana is slammed over extra cover for four by Capsey, who heaves another boundary to long-on to bring up England’s 300. That looked unlikely with three overs remaining, but Capsey and Sciver-Brunt went into overdrive to score 47 from the last 18 balls.
49th over: England 290-5 (Sciver-Brunt 123, Capsey 30) Sciver-Brunt has suddenly found her touch again. She smashes Baig for 16 in three balls, including successive sixes to long on and straight down the ground.
After scoring 16 from five overs, England have pillaged 35 from the last two.
Only Meg Lanning and Suzie Bates have scored more ODI hundreds than Sciver-Brunt – but Sciver-Brunt’s have all come at No4 or lower. Harmanpreet Kaur, with five, is the only other player to make more than three ODI hundreds when not batting in the top three.
48th over: England 270-5 (Sciver-Brunt 106, Capsey 27) Sciver-Brunt slugs another boundary off Fatima’s last delivery. Aliya Riaz tried to take a difficult catch at long-on but dived just short and couldn’t stop the boundary either.
Nat Sciver-Brunt makes her ninth ODI hundred!
She reaches three figures with successive scoops for four off Fatima Sana. The last part was a bit of a struggle but overall she’s been fantastic: 110 balls, 12 fours.
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47th over: England 255-5 (Sciver-Brunt 94, Capsey 24) If Sciver-Brunt gets to three figures it will be her ninth ODI hundred, equalling Tammy Beaumont and Charlotte Edwards’ record for England Women. It’s been an odd innings: for the first 75 runs she was almost perfect, but since then she’s missed or mistimed the majority of deliveries. I guess that shows just how well she played before that.
Sciver-Brunt’s struggles are the main reason England are ending the innings with a bit of a whimper; they’ve scored only 16 runs from the last five overs.
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46th over: England 253-5 (Sciver-Brunt 93, Capsey 23) Capsey survives an LBW appeal after missing a reverse sweep off Nashra’s final delivery. That looked quite close, but Pakistan decided against a review. I don’t think it would have been overturned; umpire’s call maybe.
45th over: England 251-5 (Sciver-Brunt 92, Capsey 22) The wicketkeeper Najiha misses another difficult chance when Capsey gloves a reverse-sweep off Dar. The ball looped up and was put down by Najiha as she dived forward. At least I think Capsey gloved out; we haven’t seen a replay to confirm as much.
44th over: England 249-5 (Sciver-Brunt 91, Capsey 21) Najiha misses a chance to catch or stump Sciver-Brunt, who charged Nashra and got a thin outside edge. That made it a much trickier chance for the keeper.
A sweep round the corner for four takes Sciver-Brunt into the nineties.
43rd over: England 242-5 (Sciver-Brunt 86, Capsey 19) Sciver-Brunt is definitely struggling with her timing. She misses a reverse sweep then mistimes a slightly inelegant heave. A couple of singles move her to within 14 of another century.
42nd over: England 239-5 (Sciver-Brunt 84, Capsey 18) Sciver-Brunt misses a pull at a skiddy delivery from Nashra that just misses leg stump. She has lost a bit of rhythm in the last few overs, scoring only nine of England’s last 44 runs.
41st over: England 233-5 (Sciver-Brunt 82, Capsey 13) The captain Nida Dar goes for a desperate review off her own bowling when Sciver-Brunt misses a reverse sweep. The ball hit the pad miles outside off stump, but well, nobody’s perfect. And it was Sciver-Brunt, so you can understand if her brain was slightly scrambled.
Capsey nails the reverse sweep later in the over, fetching it from outside leg stump to the point boundary. That stroke means England’s top seven have all reached double figures for the second consecutive innings.
39th over: England 227-5 (Sciver-Brunt 81, Capsey 9) Capsey celebrates her reprieve by dumping the next ball back over the bowler’s head for four, and why the flip not.
Umm-e-Hani ends another classy spell of offspin with figures of 10-0-47-2.
Alice Capsey has an LBW decision overturned on review. She played back to Umm-e-Hani and was hit in front, but the ball would have bounced over middle stump.
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38th over: England 217-5 (Sciver-Brunt 79, Capsey 1) The batters keep coming: Alice Capsey is in at No7.
WICKET! England 215-5 (Jones c b Umm-e-Hani 27)
Amy Jones was flying along. She has gone now, brilliantly taken by the keeper Najiha Alvi after she gloved an attempted reverse sweep. It ends a jaunty run-a-ball 27 and gives the impressive Umm-e-Hani her second wicket.
37th over: England 215-4 (Sciver-Brunt 78, Jones 27) Four more to Jones, pulled brusquely over backward square leg when Baig errs in both line and length. She’s flying along.
36th over: England 207-4 (Sciver-Brunt 77, Jones 21) Jones reverse-sweeps Umm-e-Hani for four with excellent placement. She’s batting with such confidence at the moment, particularly in ODIs. At the start of the year her average was 26; so far in 2024 she’s averaging 80-odd.
35th over: England 201-4 (Sciver-Brunt 76, Jones 16) The first ball of Diana Baig’s second spell is fractionally too straight, enough for Sciver-Brunt to muscle it wide of short fine leg for four.
Jones gets her first boundary later in the over, blasting an outswinger whence it came to bring up a rapid fifty partnership from 49 balls. England are on course for a big total here.
34th over: England 190-4 (Sciver-Brunt 70, Jones 11) In her last 20 ODIs, Sciver-Brunt averages 74 with a strike-rate of 105. That’s absurd.
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33rd over: England 187-4 (Sciver-Brunt 68, Jones 10) Sciver-Brunt runs down the track to drive Nashra inside-out over mid-off for four. She’s on a different level, just too good, and clatters four more through cover point later in the over.
It’s only a slight exaggeration to say Sciver-Brunt has made a risk-free run-a-ball 68.
32nd over: England 177-4 (Sciver-Brunt 59, Jones 9) The offspiner Umm-e-Hani, who trapped Heather Knight LBW in a good first spell, returns to the attack. Sciver-Brunt’s reverse lap for two is the most eyecatching stroke of a fairly quiet over.
31st over: England 171-4 (Sciver-Brunt 56, Jones 7) Jones sligs the new bowler Nashra towards midwicket, where Aliya Riaz drops a relatively straightforward chance. Pakistan aren’t yet good enough to spurn chances like that.
30th over: England 167-4 (Sciver-Brunt 54, Jones 4) Sciver-Brunt reaches her half-century, England’s first of the series, with a beautifully placed clip through midwicket off Riaz. She has batted with calm authority, barely playing a false stroke.
29th over: England 159-4 (Sciver-Brunt 47, Jones 3) A quiet over from Dar, whose figures have improved from 3-0-27-0 to 5-0-33-1.
28th over: England 158-4 (Sciver-Brunt 46, Jones 3) Sciver-Brunt gets her fifth boundary, placing Riaz expertly between extra cover and mid-off. She makes batting look effortless, and we both know it is anything but.
27th over: England 152-4 (Sciver-Brunt 41, Jones 2) If she had her time again Wyatt would probably knock that delivery for one because she didn’t get to the pitch. As she walked off she swished her bat in frustration.
WICKET! England 149-4 (Wyatt c Amin b Dar 44)
Danni Wyatt charges Nida Dar and clatters the ball straight to cow corner, where Sidra Amin calmly takes the catch. Wyatt goes for an excellent 42-ball 44, though her body language as she walks off suggests she has left a few runs out there.
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26th over: England 147-3 (Sciver-Brunt 39, Wyatt 44) Riaz has also changed ends, which means Fatima Sana bowled just one over in her second spell. Her first ball is a leg-stump full toss that Sciver-Brunt puts away with the minimum of fuss, but she does well to follow that fourball with four dot balls
25th over: England 142-3 (Sciver-Brunt 34, Wyatt 44) Nida Dar has changed ends to replace Riaz, but England are really going after her today. Sciver-Brunt runs down the track to drive handsomely back over the bowler’s head for four.
Dar has bowled three one-over spells that have cost ten, nine and now eight runs. If she keeps that up it will be a helluvan end to the spell.
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24th over: England 134-3 (Sciver-Brunt 28, Wyatt 42) Pakistan need a wicket, so Fatima Sana returns the attack. Wyatt reminds us that she owns both scalpel and sledgehammer by gliding a boundary to third, but there’s nothing she can do with a perfect outswinger that beats the outside edge. Wyatt almost toppled over, which would have been fatal with the keeper Najiha Alvi up to the stumps.
23rd over: England 129-3 (Sciver-Brunt 28, Wyatt 37) A double bowling change for Pakistan, with the medium-pacer Aliya Riaz coming on. She starts with a long hop that is clubbed to deep midwicket for four by Wyatt, and a nervous first over – including two wides – goes for nine.
Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt have added 59 at exactly a run a ball. It’s been a lesson in scoring quickly in the middle overs while minimising risk.
22nd over: England 120-3 (Sciver-Brunt 27, Wyatt 31) Nida Dar, back in the attack, starts with a flighted half-volley that is timed to the cover boundary by Wyatt.
Sciver-Brunt survives a precautionary run-out check after stealing another single, then sweeps a couple to move past 3,500 ODI runs. Never mind the volume, look at the average (46) and strike rate (96).
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21st over: England 111-3 (Sciver-Brunt 24, Wyatt 25) The expert rotation of strike continues, with five singles and a two from Nashra’s fifth over. Both batters are going at close to a run a ball yet they’ve hardly played a big shot.
20th over: England 104-3 (Sciver-Brunt 22, Wyatt 20) A potentially tight over from Umm-e-Hani is tarnished when Wyatt deftly steers the last ball towards the third boundary for three runs. These two look in good touch.
19th over: England 99-3 (Sciver-Brunt 21, Wyatt 16) Nashra has a couple of hopeful LBW appeals turned down against Sciver-Brunt, who was a long way down the track on both occasions. Nice bowling though, and only two runs from the over.
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18th over: England 97-3 (Sciver-Brunt 21, Wyatt 15) Wyatt gets lucky when a top-edged sweep off Umm-e-Hani just clears short fine leg.
A couple of big shots aside, this pair have been very good at rotating the strike, and there are five singles from the over. Sciver-Brunt has 21 from 19 balls, Wyatt 15 from 17.
17th over: England 92-3 (Sciver-Brunt 18, Wyatt 13) Wyatt dances down the pitch to launch Nashra over mid-off for six. That’s a great shot, the best of the England innings so far.
16th over: England 83-3 (Sciver-Brunt 17, Wyatt 5) Wyatt survives a stumping referral after missing a slog-sweep off Umm-e-Hani, who is bowling nicely.
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15th over: England 78-3 (Sciver-Brunt 13, Wyatt 4)
14th over: England 75-3 (Sciver-Brunt 11, Wyatt 3) No sign of England going into their shell despite the loss of three early wickets. They do bat deep today, with Alice Capsey carded at No7, and we know they want to keep attacking come what may.
WICKET! England 70-3 (Knight LBW b Umm-e-Hani 12)
It’s closer than close: it’s out! The ball turned past the inside-edge and hit Knight on the back pad in front of off and middle. Knight’s bat got stuck behind the pad, which is why she couldn’t access the ball.
Pakistan review for LBW against Knight! She pushed around a good delivery from Umm-e-Hani, and this looks really close.
13th over: England 70-2 (Knight 12, Sciver-Brunt 10) Baig (6-1-21-1) is replaced by the left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu, whose second ball is hammered past midwicket for four by Sciver-Brunt. That’s a terrific shot, an immaculate demonstration of her footwork, placement and power.
12th over: England 63-2 (Knight 10, Sciver-Brunt 5) Fatima Sana is replaced by the offspinner Umm-e-Hani, who is edged past the keeper for four by Sciver-Brunt. I was going to say that this might be a fairly quiet spell while Knight and Sciver-Brunt try to assess what’s a decent score. One more wicket would leave England in bother, even with a deep batting line-up.
11th over: England 56-2 (Knight 8, Sciver-Brunt 0) That was the last ball of the over.
WICKET! England 56-2 (Bouchier c Fatima b Baig 34)
Diana Baig continues into her sixth over – a risk that is rewarded when Bouchier spoons a catch to extra cover. Baig deserves that wicket for a really good opening spell; Bouchier’s timing was awry but she played positively, hitting six fours in a 33-ball 34.
10th over: England 53-1 (Bouchier 34, Knight 5) England have mistimed a number of strokes, which suggests this pitch might be deceptively awkward. That said Pakistan have bowled really well in the Powerplay, with a largely terrific line.
Bouchier continues to play her shots, thumping Fatima over mid-off for four. For a split-second it looked like it might be a chance but she got enough on it. Another boundary off the last ball, dragged uppishly wide of mid-on, takes Bouchier to 34 from 31 balls.
9th over: England 45-1 (Bouchier 26, Knight 5) Dropped her! Bouchier slaps a wide ball from Baig towards extra cover, where Fatima puts down an awkward two-handed chance to her left.
Pakistan continue to make life awkward for England’s batters. Knight gets a leading edge that falls just short of Baig in her follow-through.
8th over: England 44-1 (Bouchier 25, Knight 5) Fatima almost gets two in two when Heather Knight edges her first ball just wide of leg stump for four. Then Bouchier edges a very full delivery just short of slip.
Despite those moments of fortune, and partly because of them, England have scored 25 from the last two overs,
WICKET! England 35-1 (Beaumont b Fatima 11)
You didn’t see dismissals like this in the 1990s. Tammy Beaumont tries to ramp Fatima Sana, misses and is bowled. Replays show it was a really good delivery, which swung in late to embarrass Beaumont.
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7th over: England 31-0 (Beamount 7, Bouchier 22) Maia Bouchier releases the pressure with three boundaries in five balls off Diana Bag: a clip past square leg, an emphatic thump through the covers and a classy lofted drive to the left of mid-on. Lovely, elegant batting.
6th over: England 19-0 (Beamount 7, Bouchier 10) Another tight over from Fatima Sana, two from it. The five overs of seam , or rather swing, have cost only nine runs.
5th over: England 17-0 (Beamount 7, Bouchier 9) Beaumont pushes forward at a gorgeous outswinger from Baig and survives a huge appeal for caught behind. My hunch is that the bat hit the pad, and after a long discussion Nida Dar decides against a review.
Replays confirm the offending sound was indeed bat on pad. Even so, that’s a terrific maiden from Baig, who has figures of 3-1-5-0. England’s openers are finding life tricky against the swinging ball.
4th over: England 17-0 (Beamount 7, Bouchier 9) Dar sensibly gives way to another swing bowler, Fatima Sana, who beats Beaumont with her second delivery. Neither batter has quite found their touch yet; it’s been a low-key start to the game.
3rd over: England 15-0 (Beamount 6, Bouchier 9) Baig has started well, with a tight line (mostly) and a soupcon of outswing, enough to make the batters wary. She concedes just a single from her second over.
2nd over: England 14-0 (Beamount 5, Bouchier 9) The Pakistan captain Nida Dar decides to open with her offspin, but an expensive first over goes for 10. England scored off all six deliveries, with Bouchier slicing the last ball for the first boundary off the innings.
1st over: England 4-0 (Beamount 3, Bouchier 1) There’s some early swing for Baig, whose first few deliveries are played carefully by Beaumont. A bit of width allows Beaumont to push through the covers for three, then Bouchier guides her first ball to third for a single.
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The coverage has started right on time, although Sky say they have limited coverage because of some technical problems. Diana Baig is about to open the bowling to Tammy Beaumont.
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The local TV coverage was scheduled to start 20 minutes ago, but we’re currently watching highlights of a men’s T20 between India and England from 2007. I’m sure it’ll be sorted in time for the first ball. Please, FFS, please tell me it’ll be sorted in time for the first ball.
Team news
Lauren Filer is replaced by Lauren Bell, the only change on either side from Sunday’s abandoned match at Taunton.
England Bouchier, Beaumont, Knight (c), Sciver-Brunt, Wyatt, Jones (wk), Capsey, Dean, Ecclestone, Cross, Bell.
Pakistan Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Muneeba Ali, Ayesha Zafar, Nida Dar (c), Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Najiha Alvi (wk), Umm-e-Hani, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu.
England win the toss and bat
Win the toss and batting first in Chelmsford 🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 29, 2024
Lauren Bell comes in for Lauren Filer 🔁
Match centre ➡️ https://t.co/jjcK0NxBaH#EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/ITOjTSCFN9
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Preamble
Look, there’s no easy way to say this, so here goes: I think we’re going to get some actual cricket today. So far this week, only 6.5 of a possible 140 overs have been bowled in the two series between England and Pakistan, but the forecast in Chelmsford is pr-etty good and we should get a full game today.
It’s a series decider with a twist: England can’t lose, as they lead 1-0, but a drawn series would feel like a defeat for them and a victory for an improving Pakistan. Confused? Don’t be. All I need are the three digits on the back of the card.
England weren’t totally happy with their performance in the only completed game so far, a 37-run win at Derby. It was, at least, a team effort. Eight batters scored between 16 and 44 to get them to a workable total of 243 for nine; four bowlers took at least two wickets to close out victory. And the one bowler who went wicketless, Sarah Glenn, had earlier scampered an important 16 not out at No9.
England aspire to more than that, for sure, but a 37-run sure beats losing. And it definitely beats another washout.
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