Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host Thursday’s World Cup semi-final between SA and Australia but the threat of rain is hanging over the match. Picture: Reuters
For the first time in World Cups for South Africa, the stars look to be aligning in our favour.
Rain is forecast for Kolkata, where South Africa will take on Australia in the World Cup semi-final on Thursday, which will potentially have an impact on the match.
There is a 50% chance of rain on Thursday and a whooping 90% chance on Friday, the day set aside as the reserve day for the completion of play in the event of rain interruptions.
If both days are washed out, South Africa would qualify for the final by virtue of finishing in second place in the round-robin stage of the World Cup, one spot above Australia.
Who would have thought that rain and South Africa in World Cups would go hand-in-hand after the disappointments of the rain-affected exits from the 1992, 2003 and 2015 editions?
However, the umpires and the ground staff will surely try their best to get the match under way. Before activating the reserve day option, the umpires have the power to reduce the game to a minimum of 20 overs per side.
It would not be an ideal way for South Africa to make it to their first men’s World Cup final, but it is an outcome the Proteas and the entire country would welcome having been on the receiving end of rain-affected games in World Cups in the past.
Cape Times
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