Rain had the final say in a Super 12 Group 2 clash of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 at the Bellerive Oval between Zimbabwe and South Africa as the match was washed out to end in a no-result, with both teams sharing a point each.
After a dreadful start, Wesley Madhevere restored pride for Zimbabwe with an unbeaten 35 off only 18 balls, while South Africa’s Quinton de Kock smashed an unbeaten 47 not out off just 17 balls to nearly guide the Proteas to victory before rain played spoilsport.
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Madhevere’s knock took Zimbabwe to a challengin 79/5 in nine overs, after earlier struggling at 19/4, before rain caused a delay of two hours and 35 minutes during their innings. South Africa were well on course to chase down the total, thanks to de Kock’s onslaught that was studded with eight fours and a six.
Although the target was reduced to 64 in seven overs, South Africa were well within reach to chase down the total. But rain ruined their plans, denying them a win as points were shared. De Kock began his innings with back-to-back fours in the first two balls of the innings off Tendai Chatara, before top-edging a flick over short fine leg to make it three-in-three fours.
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The wicketkeeper-batter then assaulted Chatara in a 23-run first over, hitting a six, followed by a four. Rain then interrupted the innings again after 1.1 overs, before the players walked off the field.
With a revised target of 64 off seven overs and power-play of two overs, de Kock took on Richard Ngarava hitting a hat-trick of fours through mid-off, deep square leg, cover, before cutting hard through point for the fourth boundary.
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Soon after, Ngarava walked off the field in agony after slipping in his follow-through and staying down on the ground.
South Africa were 51/0 after three overs and needed only 13 runs off 24 balls, but the rains came pouring again, with the cut-off time for the match only eight minutes away. The delay eventually resulted in the first washout of the tournament.
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Earlier, after rain delayed proceedings, Zimbabwe batted first in a 9 over affair before South Africa’s bowlers made early inroads, triggering an early collapse.
Left-arm seam bowler Wayne Parnell first got captain Craig Ervine playing a slog to mid-on in the second over. In the next over, right-arm fast bowler Lungi Ngidi struck twice in three balls, dismissing Regis Chakabva and Sikandar Raza, with the wicket-keeper taking both catches.With Sean Williams was then run-out by David Miller in the fourth over, leaving Zimbabwe in deep trouble at 19/4 in 3.4 overs. Madhevere then came in to bat and hit four fours and a six to lead Zimbabwe’s recovery.
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He then shared a 55-run partnership off 33 balls with Milton Shumba, who scored 18 off 20 balls before paddling a catch behind to keeper de Kock off Anrich Nortje off the final ball of the innings.
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Brief Scores
Zimbabwe 79/5 in 9 overs (Wesley Madhevere 35 not out, Milton Shumba 18; Lungi Ngidi 2/20, Wayne Parnell 1/6)
South Africa 51/0 in 3 overs (Quinton de Kock 47 not out)
Match abandoned due to rain.
