The second semifinal between familiar foes Australia and South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in the ICC ODI World Cup, got off to a thrilling start before rain stopped play.
Australia, who have won five titles so far, had the Proteas, who have been in the semifinals four times, looking down the barrel, reducing them to 44/4 in 14 overs. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood ran through the top order, picking up two wickets each. Heinrich Klaasen (10*) and David Miller (10*) were at the crease.
but it will all depend on which team plays to its potential and hadles pressure better.
While the players will give it their best on the field, there might be outside factors at play. Rain, for instance, might play a major role in who finally makes it to the final against India on November 19 in Ahmedabad.
The India Meteorological Department had predicted “light rain with thunder likely” in Kolkata on both Thursday and Friday. As per the IMD, the maximum temperature will be around 29 degrees Celsius, and the humidity 69 per cent with 100 per cent cloud cover. The ground has been kept covered.
What does ICC's rain rule say
If bad weather stops the semifinal from finishing on Thursday, the match will resume on Friday on the reserve day from the same point.
As per the ODI World Cup 2023 Playing Conditions laid down by the ICC, “if play is interrupted on the scheduled day, the umpires shall use the available extra time and, if necessary, reduce the number of overs to try to achieve a result on that day.
“Each team must have had the opportunity to bat for a minimum of 20 overs for a result to be achieved. If play has not resumed by the cut-off time required to allow the minimum number of overs to be bowled to achieve a result on the scheduled day, play shall be abandoned for the day and the Reserve Day shall be used to complete the match.”
What are the rules about the Reserve Day?
On the Reserve Day, play shall recommence from the last ball bowled on the scheduled day. Overs will not be reduced then.
Example 1:
Match starts at 50 overs per side and there is an interruption at 19 overs. Overs are reduced to 46 overs per side and play is about to resume. Before another ball is bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match did not resume under the revised overs, the match should continue on the Reserve Day at the original 50 overs per side with the overs reduced if necessary during the Reserve Day.
Example 2:
The same start as in example 1, i.e. match starts at 50 overs per side and there
is an interruption at 19 overs. Overs are reduced to 46 overs per side and play is about to resume. This time, play starts and after an over has been bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match has resumed, it is continued on the Reserve Day at 46 overs per side with the overs further reduced if necessary during the Reserve Day.
What if there is no result?
If the semifinal is washed out due to rain and no winner is decided, the team with a higher net run rate in the World Cup points table will reach the final. In this case, it will be South Africa.
