England Out Of T20 World Cup After Icc Turn Down Reserve Day
England have been eliminated from the Women’s T20 World Cup after their match against India was abandoned due to rain and a Cricket Australia appeal to the ICC to add a reserve day was turned down.
The competition does not have reserve days for the semi-finals, and so because of the wash-out India progressed to the final because of their superior record in the group stage. India had topped group A with four wins from four, but England had fallen to defeat against South Africa in their second game of the tournament.
The fact that there was no reserve day in place for the semi-final stage was a fact that all teams knew before the tournament began, however Cricket Australia’s last-minute appeal to the ICC to add one was turned down on the grounds that it would extend the length of the tournament.
“It’s a horrible way to exit a tournament,” said England captain Heather Knight. “There’s obviously nothing we could have done and to not get the chance to go out there and play for a place in the final is gutting.
“I really hope that we’re the last team who ever exit an ICC tournament in this way. We’ve been bridesmaids before but to lose out to rain is a new feeling.
“It has been a positive tournament in so many ways. I’ve loved working with Lisa and I think the group are really moving in the right direction. We’ll have a bit of time off now, try and get over this, and I look forward to when we’re back together ahead of the summer.”
India’s Harmanpreet Kaur said the knowledge that there were no reserve days in the knockout meant her team placed extra importance on winning every game and topping the group.
“We knew from day one when we were going to start this tournament that we would have to win all the games,” she said. “Because if we don’t get a match because of any condition, then whoever is at the top in the league, that team is going to play the final. And that’s how we started
“It was very unfortunate that we didn’t get to the game today. But these are the rules. We can’t help it.”
The tournament’s final, to be played on International Women’s Day, Sunday 8th March 2020, will see India face Australia, who won a rain-affected second semi-final against South Africa.
