SOUTH Africa and Zimbabwe had to satisfy themselves with sharing points as their Super 12 encounter at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart didn’t yield any result, with rain causing frequent interruptions and delays.
At first, the match was reduced to nine overs per side due to frequent interruptions caused by rain. Even though it kept drizzling lightly, the match went on fine until the first over of the South African innings.
Zimbabwe scored 79/4 in their nine overs and the Proteas were set a DLS target of 85 to chase down in their quota of nine overs initially, but that was reduced to 64 from seven overs after the interruption.
South Africa kept cruising towards the target but the match couldn’t resume again when rain caused another interruption after the third over. Despite all the doom and gloom caused by rain, there were a couple of good things to talk about.
So, let’s have a look at them. It was left-arm pacer Wayne Parnell who triggered the collapse with Zimbabwe skipper Craig Ervine’s wicket in the second over of the innings. But the real damage was done by Lungi Ngidi who got rid of Regis Chakabva and the in-form Sikandar Raza in the very next over, with just 12 runs on the board.
The situation became worse for Zimbabwe when David Miller sent Sean Williams back to the dug out with a superb run out. Zimbabwe were staring down the barrel at 19/4 but Wesley Madhevere played a superb knock of an unbeaten 35 from just 18 deliveries to help his team to a competitive total of 79/4.
Madhevere added 60 runs for the fifth wicket with Milton Shumba, who supported him well with an individual contribution of 18 from 19 deliveries.
De Kock realised the necessity to press on the accelerator with rain-threat looming large and he started going on the charge from the very beginning as he smashed Tendai Chatara for 23 runs in the first over of the innings.
He didn’t stop there and continued playing his shots all around the ground. Even the interruptions caused by rain didn’t break his rhythm as he looked in sublime touch. If Zimbabwe thought they had something to work with, de Kock quickly showed them it was not nearly as much as they thought. He tucked into Tendai Chatara’s first over, which he plundered for 23 runs.
De Kock moved across his stumps to hit the first ball over short fine leg for four, then pulled a short ball in front of square for four more and then top-edged the third delivery high but safely. His best shot was off the fourth ball, which he swung over long-on, before another pull through deep square leg. De Kock was going for the full house and pulled the final delivery but only managed to glove it for a single.
De Kock carried on in the same vein, hitting Richard Ngarava for four fours in the second over, before Raza came on to quieten South Africa somewhat, giving away only 11 runs off the third over. South Africa were well on course still, though, but the weather gods had other ideas. — ICC/ ESPNcricinfo
