India vs New Zealand World Cup result: Thrilling semi-final goes down to the wire

That's all from us here tonight after a soggy, sorry day at Old Trafford. We'll be back for part deux of this two-day international tomorrow morning to see through the conclusion of this semi-final. 

I've been Harry Latham-Coyle for The Independent - thank you for joining me.

Deja vu all over again.

Welcome back to our live coverage of this two-day international, the first semi-final of the 2019 Cricket World Cup between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford.

A miserable afternoon in Manchester saw proceedings pushed to today, New Zealand nearing the close of their innings and India yet to bat. 3.5 overs remain for the Blackcaps to push what looks a below par score up to something competitive, while India have had all night to strategise and plan their chase. 

A spot in the World Cup final is on the line, and we'll have every over covered right through to the conclusion.

GOOD NEWS - Old Trafford is dry! Forecast morning rain has failed to materialise, there are streaks of blue through largely white clouds and the pitch is looking fine after a night snuggled under the covers. 

The radars are suggesting that some rain may fall this afternoon but matters will hopefully have been concluded by then, and we need only 23.5 overs more to constitute a game. It's looking good!

Yesterday was a day for the pluviophiles, really, with drizzle setting in just after lunchtime and continued spits and spots throughout the afternoon. 

But we did see a 46.1 overs of similarly grim New Zealand batting, lead, of course, by their captain Kane Williamson, who scored another half-century in rather trying circumstances.

Jonathan Liew was there to watch it:

Tom Latham and Ross Taylor, on 3 and 67 respectively, are the unbeaten New Zealand batsmen facing the rather tricky proposition of going right from the off come 10.30. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was one ball into his ninth over and he and Jasprit Bumrah will see things through this morning, you'd think - tough bowlers from which to score. 

New Zealand will have outside hopes of pushing on to 250 from their 211/5, but will that be enough? The Indian batsmen have been out and about thumping white cricket balls into the erected nets on the Old Trafford outfield, and with a lineup deepened by Ravi Jadeja and Dinesh Karthik, they'll back themselves to chase down whatever New Zealand do end up on.

New Zealand will know they probably approached yesterday's play in a too cautious manner, but runs on the board are hugely valuable in knockout situations, and despite the chasing brilliance of Virat Kohli and M.S. Dhoni, this is not an easy pitch on which to score.

Rohit Sharma's tournament could hardly have gone any better, but Trent Boult has troubled him in the past with in-duckers early on, while KL Rahul could be similarly vulnerable to Boult's bowling in the power play. The return of Lockie Ferguson makes the Blackcaps much more potent through the middle overs, while Ravi Jadeja's spell yesterday suggests Mitchell Santner might just find this pitch to his liking.

Indeed, at the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL Santner is very much seen as a deputy for Jadeja, with similarly darty left-arm spin and useful ability with the bat. If the pitch continues to aid zippy spin, India might find it a struggle to score against his wily tweakage.

Talking of spin, Yuzvendra Chahal has sought counsel with the greatest of leg-spinners ahead of play today...

Just about 25 minutes until it all gets going again. 

We will have the unexpected treat of consecutive days of World Cup semi-final cricket, with England and Australia in Birmingham to prepare for their mouthwatering matchup at Edgbaston tomorrow. 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been out on the square firing in some practice yorkers. He and Bumrah will have to be right on it this morning. They are two fine death bowlers. It will be interesting to see if they try and settle in with conventional seam bowling before going right to the proper death stuff once in rhythm. 

The surface was particularly receptive to slower balls yesterday, and that may well be a tactic employed by this New Zealand attack in the second innings, with cutters the order of the day. The pitch will only get slower, you'd think...

Virat Kohli averages 68.03 while chasing, by the way. With Rohit Sharma in such form, M.S. Dhoni living for chases like these in crunch games and five other capable batsmen around them, New Zealand really do need as many as possible. 

Play is little more than five minutes away. 3.5 overs of death biffing to come for New Zealand against two fine slog over defenders.