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The first semi-final match in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand was pushed to reserve day after the match had to be called off on Tuesday due to incessant rainfall and poor pitch conditions at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground in Manchester.

New Zealand team was stranded on 211 for 5 from 46.1 overs when rain intervened preventing any further play from taking place.

But with a reserve day in place, the match can be completed on Wednesday. It will start at the same stage with Ross Taylor and Tom Latham at the crease, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will continue the proceedings with the ball for India.  

New Zealand will complete their 50-overs innings before India also play their full quota of overs if there are no further interventions and the match is completed. But in case of another rain hurdle, the game can be shortened and India will then be set a revised target using the Duckworth-Lewis Stern (D/L) method.  

Cricket World Cup 2019’s ruled and regulation states that the chasing team has to bat at least 20 overs for the game to be completed via the process available. But if the chasing team fails to bat full 20 overs on the reserve day and the match fails to get a result, then the team that finished higher in the league phase team standings will automatically qualify.

What Is Reserve Day?

A reserve day is an extra day that is pre-determined and announced before the tournament of competition begins. It is used if a particular game is not completed in its original day. Reserve day can only be decided by the match referee of that particular match, which is set to be moved.

When Is Reserve Day Used?

A reserve day is only used when the said match fails to be completed on its original day. The match officials decided if the particular game can be completed or not after inspecting the weather and playing conditions. Officials take a number of steps to try and finish the game on its original day. Some of the steps often taken are - reducing the number of overs to a minimum of 20 overs each for either team, revising the original target or extending the match timings by a maximum 120 minutes.

If the match still fails to be completed after all the aforementioned steps are taken, then the game will be postponed to a reserve day.

What Happens on Reserve Day?  

A game postponed to reserve day will start at the same stage it was halted on its original day. The match start timings, playing hours will also be exactly at the same time. ICC stated that the reserve day will be a continuation of the game and not restart it. If the said game had already started on its original day then the game will continue from the same stage. The rule also states that the match will be a full 50-overs contest.

What Happens If Play Is Not Possible on Reserve Day  

If the particular game - after being rescheduled and moved to reserve day - still fails to produce a result, then the team placed-higher in the points table at the end of the league phase will progress. This is, however, only if the match is abandoned or washed out due to rain on both the original and reserve days.

A Tied-Match

Now after all the process and procedures are completed but the game is tied between both the teams then teams will contest in a Super Over to decide the winner. But if a tie has occurred and then rain intervenes preventing any further play then once again the team that finished higher in the league phase team standings will qualify.

By Sowmya Sangam