Rain once again played the role of an unwelcome guest in the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2023 Super Four clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. The encounter, which promised cricket fans a thrilling battle, was interrupted by heavy showers, forcing the match to continue on the reserve day. Let’s delve into the rules and regulations governing reserve days in cricket and what it means for this high-stakes fixture.
As the rain poured down in Colombo, India found themselves at 147/2 after 24.1 overs, with Virat Kohli and KL Rahul at the crease. With the game halted, fans were left disappointed as they eagerly waited for the contest to resume. The weather had been a major concern, with rain forecasts looming over the day, but the match had begun under clear skies, raising hopes for a full 50-over battle.
However, around 5 pm IST, a sudden spell of intense showers disrupted the game, soaking the outfield and making further play impossible. Ground staff worked tirelessly to prepare the field, even using table fans to dry wet patches. Just when it seemed like play might resume, rain returned, bringing a definitive end to the day’s action.
Now, with the reserve day in play, here are the key rules governing this unique situation:
- Continuation, Not Restart: The reserve day is a continuation of the match, not a fresh start. Therefore, the score at the end of the scheduled match day will be carried forward to the reserve day. In this case, India will resume their innings at 147/2.
- Complete Innings: India’s aim will be to accumulate as many runs as possible in the remaining 25.5 overs when play resumes on the reserve day.
- Minimum Overs: To determine a result, a minimum of 20 overs must be bowled in both innings. If less than 20 overs are bowled in the second innings on the reserve day, the match could be declared a “no result.”
It’s worth noting that the decision to allocate a reserve day for this specific India vs. Pakistan Super Four encounter has raised some eyebrows. Other matches in the tournament will produce no result if rain interrupts play. Additionally, this scheduling twist means that India will have a packed schedule, playing matches on three consecutive days: Sunday (reserve day), Monday, and Tuesday against Sri Lanka.
This isn’t the first time rain has impacted India vs. Pakistan encounters in the Asia Cup. In the group stage clash in Pallekele last week, only one inning could be played due to rain, with the second inning washed out completely.
As cricket fans eagerly await the resumption of this high-stakes match, they hope for clear skies and thrilling action on the reserve day, ensuring a fair and exciting conclusion to this highly anticipated contest.