Top 5 instances where rain changed fate of cricket match

In the game of cricket, when two teams walk into the middle, both strive to produce their best to extract the desired result. However, there are certain factors in the sport that impact the planning of teams with their intervention. Rain is one such thing that has affected some big matches in mega One-Day International (ODI) events. 

Ahead of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup 2023, it’s time to recall some matches from ICC ODI events where the weather played the role of spoiler for some teams. In the 2017 Champions Trophy, Australia became a victim of bad weather as they had the chance to vanquish Bangladesh at the Oval and qualify for the semi-final. However, the match washed out due to rain and later in the competition, this fruitless game knocked the Aussies out of the tournament.

Here are the five instances when rain changed the fate of matches in ICC ODI events

5. England versus India- 2013 Champions Trophy final

In the 2013 Champions Trophy, India and England locked horns with each other in the final in Birmingham. The match started after 4 o'clock in the evening due to rain and the overs were reduced to 20 per side. Winning the toss in the game, England invited India to bat first.

England looked attacking with the ball in the contest as they restricted India to a low score of 129. Virat Kohli scored 43 off 34 and became the highest run-getter in the big game. Ravindra Jadeja also played an unbeaten innings of 33 off 25 to help the team put up a respectable total on the board.

Following the low score, England lost their four batters within nine overs at a score of 46. Eoin Morgan and Ravi Bopara brought the hosts back into the game with their fine innings of 33 (30) and 30 (25) respectively. With 20 required off 16, England were expected to walk back home victorious but Ishant Sharma who dismissed both settled batters on back-to-back deliveries and brought India into a dominating position. 

In the next over, Jadeja removed Buttler on a duck and Tim Bresnan also fell cheaply which made India’s task easy. The match ended in India’s favour by five runs and Jadeja received the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance (unbeaten 33-run knock off 25 balls and 2/24 spell in four overs).