The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that both the semi-finals and the final of the World Cup 2023 can have a reserve day if the weather conditions don’t allow the completion of a match on a scheduled day.
Before activating the reserve day, the umpires will look to complete the game on the scheduled day, including reducing the game to a minimum of 20 overs per side. Even if that is not possible, a reserve day comes into play. It was needed in the World Cup 2019 semi-final between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford.
There are two scenarios relying on when the rain halted the game. Here are two examples of the conditions.
Example 1: The match starts with 50 overs per side, and the rain stops the proceedings before or in the 19th over. The game is reduced to 46 overs per side, and play is about to begin, but the rain returns. The match is called off for a day. The game will continue on the reserve day at the 50 overs per side.
Example 2: The game starts at 50 overs per side, and the rain halts the action before or in the 19th over. Four overs are cut off, and the match becomes a 46 overs affair for each side. The game starts, but the rain returns after just two balls. As the contest resumes, it will also be a 46-over encounter on the reserve day.
In the first semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium on November 15, India will take on New Zealand.
In the second semi-final at the Eden Gardens on November 16, South Africa and Australia will clash.
