Ground staff pull up the covers as rain interrupts play during the ICC Women’s World Cup match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Colombo. (Getty Images) Rain once again disrupted the proceedings of the ICC Women’s World Cup as the group stage match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo was abandoned without a result on Friday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!The persistent showers that had plagued the tournament in the Sri Lankan capital struck again after just 4.2 overs, with Pakistan 18 for no loss after being asked to bat first. Despite repeated efforts by the ground staff to make the pitch playable, the unrelenting downpour returned and forced the officials to call off the match at around 20:10 local time.The toss had already been delayed by more than three hours due to wet conditions and strong winds, making for another frustrating day for players and fans. It was the fifth washout in 11 matches at the Khettaramy venue – a statistic that raised serious questions about the scheduling of the tournament during the northeast monsoon season, which usually brings heavy rains to the region in October.
Vote
Which team’s performance was more disappointing at this World Cup?
The result hurt Sri Lanka’s campaign as the hosts finished the group stage fifth in the points table with five points (one win, three losses and three draws), effectively missing out on a place in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Pakistan ended their disappointing run without a single win, picking up just three points from three matches in seven matches.Amidst the gloom, the abandoned facility could also mark the end of an era. For Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththa, who led her team with distinction for more than a decade, it was widely seen as her last ODI World Cup appearance. Although she made no official announcement, the 35-year-old walked away proud – and heartbroken – after yet another rainy homecoming.
