South Africa’s miserable relationship with rain at World Cups continued when their opening game at the T20 World Cup came to a premature end with South Africa just 13 runs away from a revised target of 67 in seven overs against Zimbabwe at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Monday.
The match was reduced to nine overs per side and Zimbabwe posted a modest total of 79-5 before Quinton de Kock lashed an unbeaten 47 from a mere 18 balls with eight fours and a six as South Africa reached 51-0 in just three overs.
The target was reduced to 64 in even overs after another short break but the match was officially ended following another heavy shower and the points from the fixture were shared.
Wesley Madhevere blasted 35 not out from 18 balls to help Zimbabwe recover from a slow start as they posted 79-5 after Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and chose to bat first and quickly toe-ended a drive against Wayne Parnell to Lungi Ngidi at mid-on.
Regis Chakabva (8) heaved Ngidi’s first delivery over midwicket for six but edged the second to ‘keeper de Kock and in-form Sikander Raza (0) edged a lifter to de Kock who held a fine, one-handed catch above his head.
Sean Williams (1) was run out by a direct hit from David Miller and Zimbabwe were in deep trouble at 19-4 after just 3.4 overs.
But Madhevere struck a thrilling 35 with four fours and a six and Milton Shumba kept him company with 18 from 20 balls in a fifth-wicket partnership of 61 before Anrich Nortje had him caught behind off the last ball of the innings.
Parnell bowled two outstanding overs to start for figures of 1-6 while Nortje was no less impressive at the end of the innings finishing with 2-0-11-1. Kagiso and Ngidi both conceded 20 runs from their two overs – Ngidi claimed two wickets as well – while the sole spinner, Keshav Maharaj, bowled his solitary over at a cost of 10 runs.
De Kock smashed the first over from Tendai Chatara for 23 in a desperate attempt to beat the rain while left-armer Richard Ngarava conceded 17 in the second while captain Temba Bavuma faced just two balls for his two runs.
South Africa’s next game is against Bangladesh in Sydney on Thursday.
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
ZIMBABWE: Regis Chakabva (wk), Craig Ervine (capt), Wesley Madhevere, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Milton Shumba, Ryan Burl, Luke Jongwe, Tendai Chatara, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.