The first semifinal between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford, Manchester on Tuesday was suspended due to rain and will resume on Wednesday, which is the reserve day allotted for the match as per the ICC rules. New Zealand had reached 211/5 after 46.1 overs when rain stopped play.
Fans were eagerly looking forward to the first semifinal of the competition after the group stage match between the two teams was also affected by rain and had to be called off without a ball being bowled.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat on Tuesday. The Kiwis struggled to put runs on the board against some disciplined bowling by India. Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson managed to score 67 runs in 95 balls and forged a useful partnership of 65 runs with Ross Taylor before he was caught by Jadeja off Chahal. At the close of play, Ross Taylor was unbeaten on 67 runs off 85 balls with Tom Latham alongside him.
On a sluggish pitch, the Kiwi batsmen struggled to accelerate and were bogged down for the most part.
The match will now be continued on Wednesday, when New Zealand is expected to resume its innings from the second ball of the 47th over. According to ICC norms, if the game gets called off on Wednesday also, then whichever team leads in the points table gets through to the finals. This would mean that India, currently on top of the table, will cruise into the finals to be held at Lord’s, London on Sunday.
In case New Zealand does not bat again, then India’s revised target under various scenarios will be as follows:
237 in 46 overs, 223 in 40 overs, 209 in 35 overs, 192 in 30 overs, 172 in 25 overs, and 148 in 20 overs.
(With inputs from IANS)