After a grueling league stage comprising 45 games, India, Australia, England and New Zealand have managed to reach the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup.
The first of the ‘final four’ fixtures will be played between India and New Zealand on Tuesday, 9 July at Old Trafford in Manchester. England and Australia will play the second semi-final on Thursday, 11 July at Edgbaston, in Birmingham.
With rain forecast for both Tuesday and Thursday, some disruptions are highly likely during the next two games.
Earlier in the tournament, four games were rain-affected with teams like India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh forced to share points.
However, with the option of two teams being declared winners no more a possibility, here’s what the rule books say will happen if rain doesn't allow for even 40 overs of a match to be played.
Firstly, both the semis and the final have a reserve day each. So if there is incessant rains on Tuesday or Thursday, the matches get moved to the next day. If this does happen, the match doesn’t start from scratch and instead gets continued on from the score of the previous day.
If even after 2 days there isn't a result, then the team that finished ahead after the league stage progresses onto the final. The rule changes a bit for the final fixture, if rains continue for both days then both finalists will be declared the 2019 World Cup champions.
India vs New Zealand – First Semifinal
India finished the league stage topping the points table with 15 points while New Zealand finished fourth with 11 points. So, if the game between these two sides gets washed out, it is India that will make their way through to the finals, on account of them being higher on the points table and also having a better run-rate.
India won seven games, while New Zealand won five, heading into the knockouts.
The previous league stage game between both these teams was also washed out due to rain. Thus, if the game happens, both these teams will face-off for the very first time in the tournament.
Australia vs England - Second Semifinal
England and Australia play the second semi-final on Thursday and like the first semi-final, this one too, is expected to see some rain. Australia finished second on the points table with points from nine games with a net-run rate of (+0.868).
England, on the other hand, finished third on the points table with six wins and a net run-rate of (+1.152). So, if this game is washed out as well, Australia will qualify on account of their superior position in the points table.
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