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Zimbabwe and South Africa attempted to play their first T20 World Cup 2022 Super 12 match, but the weather gods decided a result would not be possible.
And that was because common sense finally prevailed in a rain-hit match at the Bellerive Oval, Hobarr, Australia.
The toss was done within reasonable time, but then is started raining. It was two hours and 35 minutes until play was possible, even as there was mizzle.
Zimbabwe had won the toss, and perhaps to many people’s surprise, they decided to bat first. At the point it was overcast and the weather was was a factor.
Perhaps it was the scars of the ODI World Cup Qualifier in 2018, but this was kettle of fish.
Anyway, the match was cut down to nine overs each. The decision to bat now looked a bit more than odd. Who is to know what a good score is, with the firepower South Africa has?
Zimbabwe’s openers flashed out and when they connected it was often with frenetic energy. It as a matter of time before Craig Ervine toed one to Lungi Ngidi at long-off for two. The score was on six after two overs. One ball later, Regis Chakabva smacked a huge six. Ngidi brought back his length, among at fifth stump and induced the edge.
Sikandar Raza last two balls, Ngidi with a short one into his body, inducing an edge the keeper. Zimmbabwe were 12 for three.
It soon became 19 for the loss of four when Sean Williams was brilliantly run out by David Miller, after colliding with Wessly Madhevere.
Milton Shumba and Madhevere then combined for an aggressive go and they ended up leading Zimbabwe to 79 for the loss of five wickets from their nine overs.
By this time, the mizzle had gone further and the rain increasing.
Tendai Chatara was taken to the cleaners by Quentin De Kock as he struggled to find line and length. Without the raw pace of the South Africans, he could not executed the clever bowling for which he is known, using a wet ball and on a track that offered nothing. He conceded 23.
De Kock then took 17 off Richard Ngarava. At this point the match was turning into a farce with the rain getting harder. And to top it all off, Ngarava slipped with the final over of his ball and had to hobble off.
He will probably need a scan in the hope that it is not serious.
Faced with the scenario Zimbabwe decided not to risk their pace bowlers getting injured on the slippery surface and turned to their spinners.
Players were called off for a short period and when they got back, it still had not completely dried up.
Zimbabwe players remonstrated and Raza bowled well to concede 11.
It was in the next over when Sean Williams said to the umpires, “Come on, this is a World Cup match”, that players were finally called off.
Common sense, even delayed, finally prevailed.
South Africa were on 51 without loss, but having failed to bat out the five overs necessary for a match, there was no result.
One would not like to dwell on it, but ESPNcricinfo sub-editor, Danyal Rasool tweeted, “What happened to Zimbabwe here wouldn’t have happened to South Africa, or any of the bigger nations. They’re under no obligation to risk their bowlers for South Africa’s or anyone else’s sake.”
Perhaps.
Next, Zimbabwe play Pakistan in Perth. This will be on Thursday, 27 October, 2022 at 13.00hrs Zimbabwe time.
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