Rain has often been the undoing of South Africa’s Proteas over the years… and their ICC T20 World Cup opener against Zimbabwe in Hobart on Monday was no different.
Chasing a respectable target of 64 in seven overs (reduced as per the Duckworth Lewis System), Quinton de Kock came out firing from the first ball at the Bellerive Oval, smashing eight fours and a six in his 47 off 18 balls. This was most likely with the looming rain in mind rather than embarrassing the Zimbabwean bowling attack.
He was coming close to his own T20 record for South Africa – the fastest 50 in only 21 balls, but it wasn’t to be. The rain won.
Zimbabwe probably breathed a sigh of relief (although even the most optimistic would have to concede they were headed for a quick hiding by their fellow Southern African rivals).
Everyone – players, umpires and ground staff – tried to give us a game. They really did. Alas, play was becoming dangerous, with lanky Zimbabwe bowler Richard Ngarava twisting an ankle in the slippery conditions and limping off the park. The game was only called off way after 11pm when it was pouring.
Since the last T20 World Cup, Quinton de Kock has scored 137 runs at an average of 11.4.
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) September 30, 2022
Neil Manthorp looks into his form, his performances as well as his role in the team ✍
South Africa and Zimbabwe came away with one point each in Group 2 of the Super 12. While good for Zimbabwe, who have progressed past the preliminaries in World Cup T20 for the first time ever, will be chuffed, so too will Pakistan.
They lost a nail-biter, also to their arch-rivals India, the day before. So, the South African-Zimbabwe damp squib basically gifts them a point too… by default. They are also in Group 2.
Earlier in the match, the South African bowlers seemed set to make quick work of the distinctly twitchy Zimbabweans, even captain Craig Irvine going for a mere two runs off six balls. Others fell quickly, another great hope, Sikandar Raza, walking for nil after an athletic overhead, one-handed catch by… the only and only Quinton de Kock again.
It was a comedy of errors after that with Wesley Madhevera and Sean Williams colliding mid-run, gifting David Miller a fantastic long-distance shy at the wicket. Williams out!
Madhevera redeemed himself somewhat and, together with Milton Shumba, Zimbabwe finished on 79 for five in a rain-reduced nine overs.
On-off-on rain reduced the overs even further to seven with the new target set at 64.
Ironically, rain and Duckworth Lewis undid South Africa in their very first one-day World Club appearance after isolation in 1991 – also played in Australia. Then, Kepler Wessel’s side surprised the world in their debut post-apartheid matches until rain stopped play against England. It was laughable when they came back onto the pitch, the DLS determining they needed 23 runs off one ball!
The only real positive to come out of Monday’s match against Zimbabwe was De Kock’s fantastic knock which would have made their next opponents, Bangladesh, sit up and take note when they meet on Thursday.
Register TODAY at playTSOGO.co.za for the best odds.
