'It's jinxed': Cricket World Cup semi-final rocked by rare drama

In rare scenes at the Cricket World Cup, India’s semi-final with New Zealand was put on hold overnight as the English weather caused havoc again.

New Zealand will resume on 5-211 after the end of their innings was curtailed by rain, prompting the match to be taken to a reserve day.

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor registered battling half-centuries on a sluggish Old Trafford surface, where early seam movement under heavy cloud cover and turn for the spinners made life difficult for the Kiwi batsmen.

Taylor was gradually building momentum before a steady drizzle turned heavier as the players were brought off at 2pm local time, with the Black Caps 3.5 overs short of completing their innings.

The showers briefly relented at 5:30pm to raise hopes of completing the fixture, albeit with India facing a 20-over chase, but then returned, ensuring play will be deferred until Wednesday morning (1930 AEST), weather permitting.

International Cricket Council regulations mean New Zealand will carry on where they left off, with Taylor on 67 not out alongside Tom Latham (3 no) as they look to push their side on to a competitive total in a match that is still 50 overs per side.

New Zealand’s go-slow

Williamson had earlier gone past 500 runs for the tournament but his 67 used up 95 deliveries on a day where all five of India's front-line bowlers took a wicket apiece.

Ravindra Jadeja was economical, as was Jasprit Bumrah, who conceded only 25 runs from his eight overs.

The group stage table-toppers burned their review after the first ball, Bhuvneshwar Kumar rapping Martin Guptill on the pads but Hawkeye showing the delivery was sliding past leg-stump.

Guptill was therefore spared a third golden duck of the tournament but contributed one off 14 balls before edging to Virat Kohli at second slip.

New Zealand had taken 17 balls to get their first run and a score of 1-27 after 10 overs was a tournament low.

Henry Nicholls made it to double figures for the first time in three innings before being bowled through the gate for 28 off 51 balls by Jadeja.

That brought together Williamson and Taylor but even their watchful stand of 65 in exactly 17 overs yielded only five fours.

Williamson tried to up the ante before the Kiwis' captain sliced the recalled Yuzvendra Chahal to short third man.

Taylor eventually kicked into gear, launching Chahal over deep mid-wicket for his 50 as New Zealand took 18 from the leg-spinner's final over.

Taylor successfully reviewed a leg-before decision off Bhuvneshwar on 52, having been hit outside the line of impact, before the players were hauled off after 46.1 overs as the inclement weather worsened.

In a World Cup that’s been disrupted by rain at an unprecedented rate, the cricket world had an expected reaction: