By: Express News ServiceNovember 2, 2025 04:13 PM IST 3 min readHeavy rains delayed the India vs South Africa Women's World Cup final match at DY Patil stadium. (Express Photo | Narendra Vaskar)Navi Mumbai is set for a historic occasion in the women’s game with a new champion guaranteed after 25 years. Only Australia, England and New Zealand have won the trophy before, but this edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup would belong to either hosts India or first-time finalists South Africa… or both.Heavy rain delayed the start of the match on scheduled day of play (Sunday November 2) at the DY Patil Stadium. The two semifinals, that were played in Navi Mumbai and Guwahati, and the final were allocated a reserve day each, on which an incomplete match will continue from the scheduled day.What happens if the knockout matches are washed out?If the semifinal matches were abandoned or ended as a no result at the end of the reserve day, then the team that proceeded to the final would have been the team that finished in the higher position in the league stage. But if the final match is abandoned or a no result at the end of the reserve day, the participating teams shall be declared joint winners.How do reserve days work?Every effort will be made to complete the match on the scheduled day with any necessary reduction in overs taking place and only if the minimum number of overs necessary to constitute a match cannot be bowled on the scheduled day will the match be completed on the reserve day. If the match has started on the scheduled day and overs are subsequently reduced following an interruption, but no further play is possible, the match will resume on the reserve day at the point where the last ball was played.Example 1: Match starts at 50 overs per side and there is an interruption at 19 overs. Overs are reduced to 46 overs per side and play is about to resume. Before another ball is bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match did not resume under the revised overs, the match should continue on the Reserve Day at the original 50 overs per side with the overs reduced if necessary during the Reserve Day.Example 2: The same start as in example 1 i.e. match starts at 50 overs per side and there is an interruption at 19 overs. Overs are reduced to 46 overs per side and play is about to resume. This time, play starts and after an over has been bowled it rains and play is abandoned for the day. As the match has resumed, it is continued on the Reserve Day at 46 overs per side with the overs further reduced if necessary during the Reserve DayStay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. Catch all the action with real-time live cricket score updates and in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:ICC Women's World CupIndia Vs South Africa