Cricket World Cup 2019: India and New Zealand to use reserve day after rain interrupts Old Trafford semi-final

India and New Zealand will return to Old Trafford today to complete their Cricket World Cup semi-final after rain interfered with yesterday’s action. The game had been nicely poised with New Zealand on 211-5 off 46.1 overs. But rain arrived in Manchester and forced the players off and the poor weather continued all afternoon. The umpires had looked to restart the game, in an attempt to complete the action within the planned day, and India would have chased a reduced target of 148 runs off 20 overs, but a further rain shower curtailed those hopes. Instead the sides will now make use of the reserve day and with the match continuing as a 50-over clash. New Zealand will have 3.5 overs to add as many runs as they can to their total before India have 50 overs to chase the target and try and book a place in Sunday’s final at Lord’s. Ross Taylor will return to the crease, alongside Tom Latham, unbeaten on 67, and he is New Zealand’s best hope of getting their score up to around 250 or beyond. Taylor had began to hit out after a conservative start and has struck three boundaries and a six in his 85-ball knock. He did have a reprieve on 56 when he was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar leg before, but on review the ball was found to have pitched outside off stump and the decision was overturned. Captain Kane Williamson, who had won the toss and chosen to bat, was dismissed for 67 when he had looked well set. India’s bowlers had proven frugal in overcast conditions, with Jasprit Bumrah on 25-1 off eight overs, Kumar on 30-1 from 8.1, while Ravindra Jadeja bowled his allotted 10 overs with final figures of 1-34.

Cricket World Cup 2019: India and New Zealand to use reserve day after rain interrupts Old Trafford semi-final

Game will restart on Wednesday with Black Caps on 211-5 with 3.5 overs of their innings to go