New Zealand are set to take on Sri Lanka in a crucial match in Bangalore this Thursday, with their World Cup campaign on the line, however, an ominous cloud of uncertainty hovers over the game. Here is the weather forecast for the game.

The weather forecast for the match day is bleak. According to Accuweather, there’s a 90 per cent chance of rain in Bangalore on Thursday afternoon, when the game at M Chinnaswamy Stadium is scheduled to commence at 2pm local time.

Google’s weather predictions are only slightly more optimistic, they estimate a 72 per cent chance of rain precisely when the match is set to start, and showers are expected to persist throughout the afternoon.

The outlook is for cloudy conditions and the looming threat of storms and thunderstorms. The temperature is forecast to reach 25 degrees at 2pm, gradually cooling as the evening progresses.

What does this mean?

These weather conditions have thrown a spanner in the works for Kane Williamson’s Blackcaps. They have suffered four consecutive losses, but know that a victory over Sri Lanka puts them in pole position for semi-final qualification.

However, fans of the Black Caps will be holding their breath, as should the game be washed out due to rain, their destiny would not be within their control. Pakistan are poised to face England on Saturday in Kolkata, where a win could propel them ahead of New Zealand in the standings. Moreover, Afghanistan have crucial matches against Australia on Tuesday and South Africa on Friday and could leapfrog New Zealand with one victory.

In their previous game against Pakistan at the same venue, New Zealand’s prospects were marred by rain interruptions and waterlogging. Pakistan clinched a 21-run victory through the DRS method in a rain-reduced encounter, despite New Zealand posting an impressive 401-6 – their highest-ever World Cup score.

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