The second semi-final between England and India does not have a reserve day, although there are an additional 250 minutes available to complete the match. Sky Sports' Michael Atherton remarked that the two semi-finals are played under slightly different rules and regulations, which he believes is less than ideal. England's journey to the T20 World Cup semi-finals has been fraught with challenges, including rain disruptions, but now they face the prospect of weather once again interfering with their title defence.
England started their campaign with a rain-abandoned match against Scotland in Barbados, followed by a defeat to Australia, which nearly eliminated them. However, they rallied to qualify for the Super 8s and eventually secured a semi-final spot. The weather forecast for their semi-final clash against India in Guyana is concerning, with the Met Office predicting thunder showers changing to heavy showers by late morning on Thursday, with a 60 per cent chance of rain.
Guyana hosted five group stage matches earlier in the tournament, none of which were rained off, but the last of those games was over two weeks ago. The weather for the first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan in Trinidad on Wednesday evening is expected to have light showers, clearing by early evening.
Weather and Match Rules
If rain disrupts the second semi-final, India will advance to the final by virtue of topping their Super 8s group. The first semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan does have a reserve day on Thursday. According to Section 13.6.2.1 of the ICC's playing conditions, the final on June 29 will have a reserve day on June 30, and both semi-finals will have an additional 250 minutes to complete the matches. For the first semi-final, 60 minutes are available at the end of the day's play, with the remaining 190 minutes scheduled for 2 pm on June 27. The second semi-final's 250 additional minutes will be used through extended playing hours on the scheduled day.
Pre-determined Schedule for Semi-Finals
It was predetermined that if India reached the semi-finals, they would play in the second semi-final to cater to their TV audience. This arrangement meant that India, having topped Group 1, would play the later semi-final, while England, runners-up in Group 2, would join them. Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain from Sky Sports criticised the differing conditions for the two semi-finals, highlighting that having one semi-final with a reserve day and the other without is far from ideal. They also highlighted the logistical advantages India had by knowing their semi-final venue in advance, unlike England.
Historical Precedents and Expert Opinions
Atherton pointed out that England's women faced a similar situation in the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup when their semi-final against India was washed out, and India progressed due to topping their group. Hosts and eventual winners Australia were almost in the same predicament, but the weather cleared for their semi-final.
Hussain remarked that the first part of the tournament had long gaps between matches, suggesting a tighter schedule could have avoided the current situation. He expressed frustration at the prospect of long match days due to weather disruptions, potentially extending play from early morning to late night.
England’s Path to the Semi-Finals
England’s journey to the semi-finals was dramatic. After a rain-off against Scotland and a loss to Australia, they needed to beat Oman to progress. They bowled out Oman for 47 and chased the target in just 19 balls, boosting their net run rate above Scotland's. They then won a rain-affected match against Namibia in Antigua, securing victory by 41 runs on the DLS method.
Despite these wins, England’s fate depended on Australia defeating Scotland. Australia’s successful chase, winning with two balls to spare, allowed England to advance. In the Super 8s, England delivered a standout performance against the West Indies, chasing down 181 runs with 15 balls to spare, thanks to Phil Salt’s unbeaten 87 from 47 balls. However, a subsequent seven-run loss to South Africa meant they needed a decisive win against the USA to secure a semi-final spot. Chris Jordan’s hat-trick and Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 83 off 38 balls helped England achieve a ten-wicket victory, chasing down 116 runs in under ten overs.
Upcoming Matches
The semi-final between South Africa and Afghanistan is scheduled for Wednesday, June 26, in Trinidad at 1.30 am, while the match between India and England is on Thursday, June 27, in Guyana at 3.30 pm. The final will be held on Saturday, June 29, in Bridgetown, Barbados, at 3.30 pm.