World Cup 2019 semi-final venue: Old Trafford

The first semi-final of the 2019 World Cup will be played between India and New Zealand at Old Trafford, Manchester, on July 9. The home of Lancashire cricket, Old Trafford had hosted the first ever ODI on English soil – and decades before that, the first in the country outside London to host a Test.

While Jim Laker’s 19 wickets in 1956 and Shane Warne’s Ball of the Century in 1993 remain the most vivid memories of the ground, the greatest local bowling heroes have been fast bowlers. Two of them – Brian Statham and James Anderson – have lent their names to the ends.

This will be the sixth match played here in the 2019 World Cup. Here is how the five previous matches played out.

June 16: India 336/5 in 50 overs beat Pakistan 212/6 in 40 overs by 89 runs (DLS Method). Man of the Match: Rohit Sharma.

June 18: England 397/6 in 50 overs beat Afghanistan 247/8 in 50 overs by 150 runs. Man of the Match: Eoin Morgan.

June 22: New Zealand 291/8 in 50 overs beat West Indies 286 in 49 overs by 5 runs. Man of the Match: Kane Williamson.

June 27: India 268/7 in 50 overs beat West Indies 143 in 34.2 overs by 125 runs. Man of the Match: Virat Kohli.

July 6: South Africa 325/6 in 50 overs beat Australia 315 in 49.5 overs by 10 runs. Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis.

In other words, the sides batting first have won all five matches in the ongoing World Cup.

Old Trafford	This decade	World Cup 2019
Matches	14	5
Average score (batting first)	280	320
Average score (chasing)	255	265
4s/50 overs	23	25
6s/50 overs	5	8
50s	42	20
50s/match	3.00	4.00
Balls/wicket (SR)	36	38
3WIs	27	11
3WIs/match	1.93	2.20