T20 World Cup 2022: Rain has the last laugh in Hobart as South Africa and Zimbabwe share points

The
Group
2
match
between
the
African
neighbours
had
been
reduced
to
a
nine-over
affair
after
a
rain
delay
of
more
than
two
hours.

After
a
terrible
start,
Zimbabwe
made
79
for
five,
thanks
to
a
nice
little
cameo
from
Wessly
Madhevere,
who
made
an
unbeaten
35
off
18
balls.

1

53402

Zimbabwe
were
also
awarded
five
penalty
runs
after
the
relay
throw
from
fine
leg
hit
wicket-keeper/batter
Quinton
de
Kock’s
glove
sitting
on
the
ground.

In
reply,
De
Kock
lead
the
Proteas
run
chase
as
he
blasted
23
off
the
first
over
bowled
by
Tendai
Chatara.

ICC
T20
World
Cup
2022
Special
Page

It
started
pouring
heavily
again
as
the
match
resumed
and
the
target
was
revised
to
64
off
7
overs.

De
Kock
kept
firing
on
all
cylinders
and
made
an
unbeaten
48
off
17
balls,
but
another
round
of
heavy
downpour
—
with
the
South
Africa
score
reading
51/0
after
three
overs
—
brought
curtains
to
the
came.

As
per
ICC
rules
minimum
five
overs
are
required
to
constitute
a
game.

Earlier,
Zimbabwe
skipper
Craig
Irvine
won
the
toss
and
opted
to
bat
in
their
Super
12
game.

After
a
pitch
inspection
at
9.10pm
local
time
(3:40pm
IST),
the
umpires
decided
to
have
nine-over-a-side
match
starting
9.35pm
local
time
(4.05pm
IST).

Powerplay
was
to
be
of
three
overs
each,
but
with
South
Africa’s
target
revised
due
to
further
downpour,
it
was
brought
down
to
two
overs
during
their
chase.

Rain
had
also
delayed
the
toss
for
the
game
and
returned
after
the
conclusion
of
the
national
anthems,
forcing
the
groundsmen
to
bring
the
covers
on
at
Bellerive
Oval.

Zimbabwe
were
playing
an
unchanged
XI
from
their
last
match
against
Scotland.

South
African
captain
Temba
Bavuma
who
said
at
the
toss
that
he
would
also
have
bowled
first
anyway,
probably
keeping
in
mind
the
chances
of
showers
and
the
Duckworth/Lewis
method
that
could
have
come
into
the
picture
later
on.

The
Proteas
picked
four
pacers
and
one
spinner
for
the
game.

In
the
end,
it
did
not
matter
as
the
rain
had
the
last
laugh.