First World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand pushed to second day due to rain

Steady rainfall in Manchester has sent millions of cricket fans around the globe scrambling for the rule book as India and New Zealand’s World Cup semi-final was pushed into a second day.

India's captain Virat Kohli walks off the field as rain falls during their semi-final with New Zealand. Picture: AFP

• Fortress Edgbaston gifts England home comforts
• Aussies make barefoot investment in Cup success
• How Australia can reach final without facing a ball

The World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand will head into a second day after rain prevented the match finishing as scheduled at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Live stream India vs New Zealand in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Get your 14-day free trial on Kayo and start streaming instantly

New Zealand had struggled to 5-211 off 46.1 overs when persistent rain worsened sufficiently for the umpires to halt play at 2:00pm with 23 balls left in the innings.

Ross Taylor was 67 not out and Tom Latham three not out after New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who won the toss, had made a painstaking 67.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah leave the pitch as rain halts play. Picture: Getty

After more than four hours off the field, and with fresh rain falling, the match officials decided there was no prospect of completing the minimum 20 overs per side game required under the Duckworth-Lewis method for rain-affected matches.

At one point there was a prospect of India facing a 20-over target of 148, a tougher chase than some fans felt was fair considering the Black Caps modest efforts with the bat.

Indian great Virender Sehwag led the outrage by suggesting employees would like to use the method as a negotiating tactic when looking for a pay rise - and he wasn’t alone.

Will it be advantage employees if Salary is given by Duckworth Lewis in rainy months. If baarish mein bhi employee is coming to office. What do HR log think?

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) July 9, 2019

The shorter the game, the stiffer the run-rate India will have to achieve. If it is a 20 over game now, the target would be 148. If, however, it becomes a 46 over game and India bat 20 overs, the target then will actually be just about 60-70 for no loss.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 9, 2019

Because you will have 10 wickets in hand when you start chasing the 20 over target. DLS calculates resources available. And so if you start on the assumption that it is 46 overs, then it gets aborted, the par score will only be 60-70 for no loss https://t.co/UVkQSMce0q

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 9, 2019

In a 20 over match we will be asked to make as much as New Zealand scored in approx 40 overs.

Duckworth Lewis was an idiot, hundred years of cricket will also prove same. #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/GTrHSZ8weC

— richa singh (@richa_singh) July 9, 2019

🙄 pic.twitter.com/GPE52FaM1E

— Bollywood Gandu (@BollywoodGandu) July 9, 2019

They abandoned play for the day at 6:20pm.

The match, which remains a 50 overs per side contest, will now resume at 10:30am (7.30pm AEST), weather permitting.

If a result cannot be achieved on Wednesday, India will qualify for Sunday’s final at Lord’s by virtue of having finished first to New Zealand’s fourth in the 10-team group stage.

LISTEN UP: Ben Horne and Steve Wilson join podcast host Andrew Menczel to preview the World Cup semi-finals.

Stream above now or search ‘Cricket Unfiltered’ on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts from, and subscribe today to never miss an episode.

Umpires made the call to delay the game as rain continued to fall in Manchester. Picture: Getty

The Black Caps, whose group match with India was washed out, found runs hard to come by, with paceman Jasprit Bumrah taking one wicket for 25 runs in eight overs.

Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja enjoyed a miserly return of 1-34 in his maximum 10 overs.

That Williamson, one of the world’s best batsmen, faced 95 balls for his runs told of how tough things were for 2015 runners-up New Zealand.

All five previous matches in the tournament at Old Trafford had been won by the side batting first, so Williamson’s decision at the toss was understandable.

But New Zealand lost opener Martin Guptill with just one run on the board.

It was an all-too familiar story for the Black Caps, who only qualified for the last four on net run-rate and came into this match on the back of three group-stage defeats by Pakistan, Australia and England.

Kane Williamson is caught after a painstaking 67. Picture: Getty

Bhunvneshwar Kumar appealed for lbw against Guptill off the first ball of the match but failed with his review of a not out decision.

India, however, did not have long to wait.

The leading run-scorer at the 2015 World Cup, Guptill fell for just one — his fifth single figure score of this tournament — when he fended at a rising Bumrah delivery and was well caught by India captain Virat Kohli at second slip.

Henry Nicholls and Williamson shared a slow-going second-wicket stand worth 68. That ended when Jadeja bowled left-handed opener Nicholls between bat and pad for 28.

New Zealand had gone more than 13 overs without a boundary by the time Williamson swept leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for four.

India's Yuzvendra Chahal (C) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of New Zealand linchpin Kane Williamson. Picture: AFP

Williamson had revived New Zealand after a top-order collapse with a matchwinning hundred against the West Indies in their only previous fixture at Old Trafford.

But there was no repeat on Tuesday, the skipper slicing a drive off Chahal to Jadeja at backward point to leave his side 134-3.

All-rounders Jimmy Neesham and Colin de Grandhomme both fell cheaply before Taylor swept Chahal for six to complete a 73-ball fifty featuring just two fours.

India or New Zealand will face the winners of Thursday’s second semi-final at Edgbaston between hosts England and reigning champions Australia.

Originally published as First World Cup semi-final between India and New Zealand pushed to second day due to rain