Cricket World Cup 2019: Weather forecast expected to clear as Blackcaps v India goes to reserve day

Persistent rain has stalled the Blackcaps' Cricket World Cup semi-final against India, sending the match into a reserve day.

New Zealand reached 211/5 from 46.1 overs at Old Trafford in Manchester before rain forced the players from the field at 2pm local time (1am NZ time).

The rain was not heavy, but it was consistent enough to delay play, with the umpires deciding at 6:25 local time no further action would be possible.

The decision means New Zealand will resume their innings at 10:30am local time (9:30pm NZ time) on Wednesday and India will have the full 50 overs to chase.

Newshub's Europe correspondent Lloyd Burr says there is a "10 percent" chance of rain on the reserve day but, as we saw in the build-up to the semi-final, the weather can change very quickly.

Ground staff work on the rain soaked ground at Old Trafford.
Ground staff work on the rain soaked ground at Old Trafford. Photo credit: AAP

"At the moment, the weather forecast is pretty good," Burr told The AM Show. "It's going to be cloudy and overcast, but the chance of rain is about 10 percent for most of the day so it will be much better than today.

"Today has been on and off. It rains and then stops so the covers keep coming on and off.

"It has rained all over the cricketing party today, but they'll kick off from where they paused, so New Zealand will face their 23 balls, then have  a break before India bats."

However, BBC weatherman Gareth Harvey believes rain will play its part on the reserve day.

"We are likely to see mixed conditions at Old Trafford with sunny intervals but some showers, these most likely through the late morning and the early afternoon," he says.

"There should be some play with some decent drier interludes between the showers, but interruptions are likely."

If there is rain, the match will be shortened, and India will need to bat at least 20 overs for a completed match. If the game is not complete, India will advance to the final having finished higher in the league stage.

Ross Taylor (67no) and Tom Latham (3no) will resume batting for New Zealand when play gets underway while Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/30) will bowl out his ninth over.

Newshub.

Join us at 9:30pm Wednesday for live updates of the Blackcaps v India Cricket World Cup semi-final