Will Persistent Rain Disrupt the Women's WC Toss at DY Patil Stadium?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Heavy rain delayed the toss at DY Patil Stadium.
- Fans remained enthusiastic despite the weather.
- This is India's first home final in the Women's World Cup.
- Both teams are seeking their first title.
- The match has a reserve day for continuation.
Navi Mumbai, Nov 2 (NationPress) Just 15 minutes before the re-scheduled toss for the Women's ODI World Cup final featuring India and South Africa at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, a heavy rainstorm commenced, causing further delays in the match’s start.
The downpour began around 2:40 PM, compelling the ground staff to deploy covers, which led to the toss being postponed from the originally announced time of 3:00 PM. Dark clouds loom over the stadium, significantly reducing visibility.
Earlier, a light drizzle had started around noon, intermittently affecting the day. As a result, ground staff had to keep the covers on, preventing the players from participating in their pre-match warm-up.
Things appeared to improve around 2:30 PM, just before the toss was due, as the rain ceased momentarily and the sun made a brief appearance. Cheers erupted when the ground staff began removing the covers for umpire inspection, although visible puddles remained.
However, the rain returned, this time with greater intensity. Currently, there will be no changes to the number of overs unless there is a delay exceeding two hours, contrasting with earlier matches that reduced overs after just one hour.
Despite the persistent rain since early morning in Navi Mumbai and the nearby districts of Thane and Mumbai, the enthusiasm of the fans remained undeterred, with large crowds gathering outside the stadium for this final showdown.
This is the first time the Indian women's team is competing in a home final, heightening the excitement. Their impressive performance against the former champions, Australia, in the semifinals has further intensified interest, leading to soaring ticket demand.
The rain has not shrouded the spirit of the fans, and record attendance at the stadium is anticipated.
Both India and South Africa are vying for their first-ever title, with India slightly favored due to their two previous final appearances (2005 and 2017) and the support of the massive crowd. They have played three matches at this venue, while South Africa is making its debut in Navi Mumbai this World Cup.
Nevertheless, India has fallen to South Africa three times in the World Cup, including a group stage match in this edition in Visakhapatnam.
Fortunately for fans, a reserve day is in place, allowing the match to resume from where it was interrupted. The ICC is committed to concluding the match on Sunday, even if it means a shortened game.