The semifinals lineup has been confirmed for the ICC Women’s World Cup, with Australia, England, South Africa and India finishing in the top four in that order. England’s win over New Zealand on Sunday was crucial in a sense to confirm Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side finishing second, because that could also be critical given how much weather has played a part in this tournament.
The two semifinals, two be played in Navi Mumbai and Guwahati, and the final, which will be played in Navi Mumbai, have been allocated a reserve day each, on which an incomplete match will continue from the scheduled day. As of Sunday evening, the forecast for Navi Mumbai on Thursday, as per Accuweather, is 69% probability of rain in the afternoon (cloudy with a little rain at times) with 3.8mm of rainfall predicted. The forecast is better for Guwahati on Wednesday, with 18% probability of precipitation.
What happens if the knockout matches are washed out?
If the match is abandoned or a no result at the end of the reserve day, then the team that proceeds to the final will be the team that finished in the higher position in the league stage. So in case of the first semifinal being washed out, it will be England progressing and if the second semifinal is abandoned, Australia – in lieu of being table-toppers – will enter the final. If the final match is abandoned or a no result at the end of the reserve day, the participating teams shall be declared joint winners.
As an aside, if a semifinal is tied, the teams shall compete in a Super Over to determine which team progresses to the Final. And it will be the same for final too.
How do reserve days work?
Every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day with any necessary reduction in overs taking place and only if the minimum number of overs necessary to constitute a match cannot be bowled on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day. If the match has started on the scheduled day and overs are subsequently reduced following an interruption, but no further play is possible, the match will resume on the reserve day at the point where the last ball was played.
Example 1: Match starts at 50 overs per side and there is an interruption at 19 overs. Overs are reduced to 46 overs per side and play is about to resume. Before another ball is bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match did not resume under the revised overs, the match should continue on the Reserve Day at the original 50 overs per side with the overs reduced if necessary during the Reserve Day.
Example 2: The same start as in example 1 i.e. match starts at 50 overs per side and there is an interruption at 19 overs. Overs are reduced to 46 overs per side and play is about to resume. This time, play starts and after an over has been bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match has resumed, it is continued on the Reserve Day at 46 overs per side with the overs further reduced if necessary during the Reserve Day
