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The Zimbabwe Cricket senior national team avoided further humiliation at the hands of their next door neighbours South Africa when rain saved the Chevrons from a thorough hiding at the hands of the Proteas after their 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Group 2 encounter produced a no result at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Australia yesterday which saw the teams share points.
Resultantly, Zimbabwe are now fourth while South Africa are a position above them, with Bangladesh occupying the top spot, followed by India.
Despite Quinton de Cock making a mockery of the Chevrons bowling attack, next up for the Chevrons is their first game outside of Hobart since the tournament began when they face Pakistan at Perth Stadium in Perth.October 30, Zimbabwe will clash with Bangladesh at the Gabba in Brisbane whilst Netherlands will be up next on November 2 before they play against India on November 6 to round up their group games.
The match was reduced to nine overs after a lengthy rain delay, with the Chevrons only managing 79-5 courtesy of a 50-run partnership between Wessly Madhevere and Milton Shumba.
Proteas opener Quinton de Kock was on the road to total carnage against Zimbabwe, when rain came to the rescue of the Chevrons as the match was abandoned with South Africa on 51-0 in just three overs.
Zimbabwe never got going after winning the toss and opting to bat with skipper Craig Ervine, his opening partner Regis Chakabva as well as the in-form Sikandar Raza falling cheaply for a duck.
Dismissed for a two-ball duck by Lungi Ngidi, Raza taken behind by De Cock left Zimbabwe reeling at 12-3, which was soon 19 for four when Sean Williams was run out by David Miller for one run.
Zimbabwe’s Madhevere top scored with an unbeaten 35 off 18 deliveries and Shumba had the next best score of 18.The Proteas started their run chase like a house on fire, De Kock making a mockery of Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, with the explosive opener taking 23 runs off the first over by Zimbabwe’s leading wicket taker in T20Is, Tendai. The quick scoring continued with the second over before it started raining again.
With the match reduced to seven overs, South Africa’s revised target was 64 runs.De Kock faced, the carnage continuing when he scored 17 runs off the over bowled by Richard Ngarava before the left arm seamer walked off the field injured.
When the match was called off, South Africa on 51/0 in just three overs, De Cock unbeaten on 47 runs off just 18 deliveries, at an unbelievable strike rate of 261 percent.
The match was however rightly declared a no result game, both teams picking up a point each.
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