ICC World Cup 2019: Weather Prediction for India vs New Zealand, First Semi-final

As the group league stage of ICC World Cup 2019 has been done and dusted, knockout stages have been started. Tournament favourite India, the defending champion Australia, the hosts England and the dark-horse of the tournament New Zealand have been qualified for the semi-finals. The first semi-final took place between the number 1 and 4 team of the points table. That is India vs New Zealand at?Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester on July 9.

Though there was rain in the forecast, the game started at its original time. Although it was overcast, the wicket looked dry and it the team who would bat first, get the benefit. Kane Williamson won the toss and did no wrong while he chose to bat first. India got off to a brilliant start where their first two overs from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah went for the maiden, fourth over was seen the dismissal of Martin Guptill for mere 1.

Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls tried to resurrect the innings with a 68-run partnership. They managed to put up only 27 runs in the first 10 overs while 46 runs came from the next 10 overs along with a dismissal of Nicholls for 28. Things started changing slowly as Williamson and Ross Taylor left no stone unturned to give stability in their innings.

Without Mohammed Shami in the squad, the pressure fell upon the other bowlers to keep the things tight which Indian bowlers did really well. With Williamson’s dismissal off Chahal for 67, the Kiwis fell in trouble as their next two batsmen James Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme fell in quick successions and left the side struggling at 200-5 after 44.4 overs.

This was not the end of trouble for them, as it was drizzling at that moment and they continued to play till 46.1 overs where Bhuvneshwar Kumar was bowling his 9th over. Ross Taylor and Tom Latham were at the crease with the scoreboard was showing the score 211-5.

Play stopped due to rain and according to rule, they could wait as many as 2 hours before the starting to lose overs. Unfortunately, the game couldn’t start further and it abandoned for the day. The?India vs New Zealand game will be resumed in the reserved day, i.e. July 10 where it has stopped.

According to the weather forecast for Wednesday, this also does not look very promising.?”Skies will often be cloudy through Wednesday, with further heavy showers at times. Some brighter interludes are possible between the showers though,” according to the reports.

On the reserve day, New Zealand will finish their 50-over innings at first and then India will chase and try to play the full 50-over if weather permits. If not, then the game might be shortened depending on the weather conditions.?For the match to be finished, India are needed to bat for minimum 20 overs. In case the Duckworth-Lewis System (DLS) comes in between the game, the target will be revised where India will have to chase based on the number of overs.

Or in case, if the play doesn’t complete on the reserve day as well and the match will wash out, India will qualify for the ICC World Cup final based on the points (15) in the league stage as they finished as the top team in the points table.