World Cup: Rain On Reserve Day Will Seal Final Berth For India

The semi-final between India vs. New Zealand at Old Trafford is to be resumed on Wednesday after rain forced the match to go into the reserve day on Tuesday. Play was halted by rain at 6.30 pm (IST), NDTV reported.

If the condition doesn’t change on the reserve day and it is also a washout, then the team with higher points from the league stage will automatically qualify for the final. This means, India will reach the final if rain does not allow the semi-final to be completed on the reserve day.

New Zealand, opting to bat, had posted 211/5 in 46.1 overs when rain stopped play in Manchester. But after more than four hours off the field, the umpires eventually decided there was no prospect for of even a 20 overs per side match—the minimum required under the Duckworth-Lewis method for rain-affected matches—being completed on Tuesday.

The umpires finally decided to abandon play for the day at 10.50 pm IST. The match, which remains a 50 overs per side contest, will now resume at 3 pm on Wednesday, weather permitting, with New Zealand on what will be their overnight score of 211/5, with Ross Taylor 67 not out and Tom Latham unbeaten on three.

In the second semi-final, Australia and England will face-off in Birmingham on Thursday. In case the Australia vs. England semi-final is also washed out on the reserve day, the holders (Australia) will make it to the final because they have accumulated more points from the league stage.