On Thursday, November 16, South Africa and Australia will square off in what looks to be a tantalizing second semi-final at Kolkata’s famed Eden Gardens.
For the majority of the major events, the rain gods have been gracious. However, because rain has a history of ruining important ICC events, supporters are constantly concerned about the weather on any given matchday. It hasn’t rained in Kolkata in a few weeks, and the last four World Cup games at Eden Gardens have gone on as scheduled.
The fact that Eden Gardens boasts some of the best drainage systems available for Indian cricket should give supporters hope. On Friday, there’s also a reserve day.
But according to Weather.com, there’s a 24% probability of rain on Thursday. Rain is a greater hazard during the night, with a likelihood of 64%. Still, the prediction for that day is even more worrisome. It’s vital to remember that the Proteas will advance if the match finishes in a tie because they finished higher on the league phase points table than Australia.
What behavior is expected from the pitch?
Eden Gardens has thus far provided one of the most evenly distributed pitches for the ODI World Cup 2023. Bowlers have had adequate support, and when hitters have given themselves some breathing room in the middle, they have also scored runs.
The team batting first has won three of the four games. As the games have progressed, the pitches have also favored spinners. Australia has the in-form Adam Zampa in their ranks, while South Africa has two frontline spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi. South Africa had the advantage of having one match at this location during the tournament, but it wasn’t a particularly memorable one. India defeated Temba Bavuma and Co. by an overwhelming 243 runs. The ‘Men in Yellow’ had won seven straight after the Proteas defeated Australia by 134 runs in the league stage. When these two teams meet again, cricket fans may anticipate an exciting match.
India
