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What happens if SA vs NZ Semi-Final is Washed Out?: The excitement of the T20 World Cup 2026 is at its peak. The first semi-final of the tournament is scheduled to be played on March 4th at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Two legendary teams, South Africa and New Zealand, face off. There's plenty of excitement surrounding this match, but fans are also keeping their eyes fixed on the sky.
If rain plays a role in this knockout match, how will the race for the final be decided? Let's understand the ICC rules in simple terms.
What Happens if SA vs NZ Semi-Final Match is Washed Out Due to Rain?
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The ICC has kept the rules for this crucial match quite flexible so that the result can be decided on the field. If it rains during the match, the following procedure will be followed:
- Extra Time: In addition to the scheduled time, match officials will have 90 minutes of additional time to complete the match on the same day.
- Reserve Day: If the match cannot start or is interrupted due to rain on March 4th, play will resume from the spot on the next day, March 5th (Reserve Day).
- Over Reduction: For a result in the semi-finals, both teams must play at least 10 overs each (in regular league matches, this is 5 overs).
Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah T20 Records Against England, check stats ahead of the semi-final
Who Qualifies for Final if the Reserve Day is Also Rained Out?
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The biggest question for cricket fans is what will happen if the matches on March 4th and 5th (Reserve Days) What happens if heavy rain doesn't result in a single ball being bowled on both days?
In such a situation, ICC rules use the 'Super-8' points table as the basis.
Rule: If the semi-final match is completely washed out and there's no result on the reserve day, the team that topped its group in the Super-8 stage will advance to the final.
Also Read: IND vs ENG Semifinal Match, Head-to-Head Records and Wankhede Stadium Stats
What happens if the Semi-Final is abandoned?
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Looking at the statistics, South Africa has the upper hand in case of a match being abandoned in the event of rain. This is due to their impressive Super 8 performance:
- South Africa: Finished first in Group 1 (net run rate: +2.259).
- New Zealand: Finished second in Group 2 (net run rate: +1.390).
Since South Africa topped their group, if the match is cancelled, South Africa will qualify for the final without playing. For New Zealand, this journey will end here.
Also Read: Who Will Win T20 World Cup 2026? AI Predicts the Champion
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