Sciver was ably supported by her captain Heather Knight, who made 106 from 109 balls with 12 fours and two sixes. Here is Knight on the hunt for boundaries

But when Nat Sciver came to the crease in the 10th over with the score at 42-2, she quickly began to change the match. Here she is striking an early boundary.

Bizarrely for a team posting 377 England found it quite heavy going in the early stages and one of their star players, Sarah Taylor was out for only 11, much to the disappointment of the Sussex player's many admirers.

Despite the soggy bottom at the end we have seen some tasty treats served up by the players today so let's have a look back at some of them now.

It seems an awfully long time ago when Tammy Beaumont was dropped off the very first ball of the match.

Pretty sorry looking sight out there now, the entire square and bowling run-ups under cover, the stadium virtually deserted and just two unmanned tractors out on the playing area. We must be nearing the denouement but no official word yet.

Hello again. Very little change to report. I'm still staring at a screen showing charcoal skies and bright floodlights, the rain still slanting across. A reminder that if there is no further play England will win under the DLS method because we have completed 20 overs of the Pakistan reply.

England captain Heather Knight has been writing columns for us here on the BBC Sport website for a while - and it's interesting to look back on this one from the 2015 Women's Ashes which featured a day-long washout at Worcester. Heather (vice-captain in those days) wrote:

"Everyone has their own ways of coping with the rain. Charlotte Edwards can be seen sighing after reaching in her pocket for her phone several times an hour, only to realise it's not actually there because of the ICC's anti-corruption measures, external which mean that all phones have to be removed from the dressing room.

"Katherine Brunt is usually making a large amount of noise somewhere, whether it is in celebration of a game she's found - such as trying to putt a golf ball into an empty coffee cup, external - or if she's arguing that she's losing at cards because everyone else is cheating. (Brunty's a terrible loser!).

"The Hoof (Anya Shrubsole) will often be frowning at Katherine making so much noise as it distracts her from her Sudoku. I'm usually found filtering between reading the paper, trying and failing to make people laugh, playing cards or doing some running bat repairs."

Image source, Heather Knight/ECB

Very dark out there now, the floodlights shining brightly and rain continuing to fall heavily. India captain Mithali Raj had it right the other day, reading a book and that was while the match was taking place. So what do the players do while it rains? Let's find out.

Image source, ICC Women's World Cup

Rain across the country today, even in sunny Sussex, where there has been very little to see in the tennis at Eastbourne. Raining at the County Ground at Hove as well. While we wait, here's a chance to see Ayesha reach a well deserved half century, her third in only her 13th international.

Rain stops playpublished at 29.2 overs

29.2 overs

Pak 107-3 (target 378)

Heavy rain now and the tractors are waved on to cover the pitch. Just to clarify, they are not using the tractors to cover the pitch, they are transporting the main cover. There are slate grey skies above. It looks like we will at least have a chance to show you the wet weather features we made earlier.

Pakistan scamper through for a single off Sciver and England not as impressive with their throwing as they were with their boundary hitting. The rain is intensifying now and the groundstaff are poised.

Charlotte Edwards
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Ayesha is playing very well. She's very clear in her own head about where she wants to score her runs.

An eighth boundary for Ayesha, fluently driving Hartley down the ground. Spots of rain evident.

Nat Sciver is certain to win the player of the match award after her stunning 137 but her bowling spell begins with a wide and is then driven to the boundary. There is then an overthrow but the errant throw came from the captain so there is not much admonishment. Hundred up for Pakistan, just the 278 needed now!

Hartley puts her hands together above her head as she begins her approach to the crease, a bit like a singer encouraging the crowd to clap at a rock concert. She has the chance of a caught and bowled as Nain drives one back but the slow left-armer cannot hold on.

Charlotte Edwards
Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

Ayesha has played brilliantly and I suspect she might have a hundred in her sights today.

50 for Ayeshapublished at 25 overs

25 overs

Pak 89-3

An accomplished half century from Ayesha, featuring seven fours, only the fifth fifty for a Pakistan batter in the World Cup.

Here's your chance to see the star we've been describing. The ECB's scheme to encourage five to eight-year-olds to try cricket this summer - All Stars Cricket - is in full swing, but there's still time to get involved.Sign up and you'll get a bag of free, personalised cricket kit for your child (possibly not hand-delivered by Stuart Broad but don't let that put you off), so go to the club finder on the website, external and find a participating club or centre near you!

They're really rattling through the overs, which I'm all for, but it is hard to keep track at times. Counting the runs is not so much of an issue here, just the single in this over from Hartley.

There must have been an edge there from Ayesha because it is given as a run. Taylor is amazed that it managed to evade her clutches behind the stumps and bowler Hazell has her hands on her head once again.