Advertisement

SA closer to exit as Windies clash rained out

cricket10 June 2019 15:31| © MWP
Share

Rain prevented all but 7.3 overs of play in the Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and the West Indies at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton on Monday.

 

Umpires Rod Tucker and Paul Wilson eventually abandoned the match in mid-afternoon as the rain continued to fall.

Both teams collect a point for the no-result with the Proteas thereby opening their account. But, having suffered three consecutive defeats before Monday’s match, Faf du Plessis’ men already find themselves on the brink of failing to make the semifinals.

At the very least they will have to win their remaining five matches against Afghanistan, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia and hope that other results go their way. The West Indies, meanwhile, move up to three points on the log after their victory against Pakistan and their narrow defeat against Australia.

"These are the worst," South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said. "Both teams wanted to play and get results but you can't control the weather."

He added they will be bolstered by the return of seamer Ngidi in their next fixture against Afghanistan in Cardiff on Saturday.

"Lungi will be ready for the next match and it will be good to have him back. We haven't played our best cricket so far and we've got to beat Afghanistan," Du Plessis said.

Rain had been predicted in Southampton, with the match the second of the tournament to be washed out after Sri Lanka versus Pakistan was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Bristol.

The West Indies made an excellent start to the match after they won the toss and put the Proteas in to bat in chilly, overcast conditions. Their “saluting” paceman, Sheldon Cottrell, quickly grabbed two wickets to put their opponents under immediate pressure.

SHARPLY LIFTING DELIVERY

Cottrell, a left-arm paceman who bowls a “heavy" ball, made the breakthrough in his second over when Hashim Amla (6) edged a sharply lifting delivery to Chris Gayle at slip who briefly juggled but eventually claimed the straightforward catch. Cottrell struck again in his fourth over when Markram (5) gloved a fast, bouncy delivery down the leg side for wicketkeeper Shai Hope to take a good catch diving to his left.

When rain stopped play after 40 minutes, South Africa were struggling on 29/2 with Quinton de Kock unbeaten on 17 while skipper Faf du Plessis had yet to get off the mark.

The West Indies’ pacemen have so far taken nine wickets in the first power play in the competition, more than any other team, and their aggressive bowling paid dividends once again on Monday.

South Africa had chosen left-arm paceman Beuran Hendricks for his World Cup debut in place of spinner Tabraiz Shamsi while Markram had been preferred to JP Duminy.

The West Indies also made two changes with injury preventing opening batsman Evin Lewis and allrounder Andre Russell from playing. They were replaced by Darren Bravo and Kemar Roach respectively.

West Indies captain Jason Holder was left to rue what might have been after his side's clinical start.

"Yeah, it was a really good start again by the bowlers, it's unfortunate the weather came," Holder said.

"So far we've been getting new ball wickets. It's just a matter for our bowlers to hit the straps and continue doing what we're doing.

"We would have probably been happy with that (three points from three games) at the start of the tournament."

Holder added they hoped to have allrounder Andre Russell back from injury for their next clash against England at the same Southampton venue on Friday.


SOUTH AFRICA: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis (capt), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Beuran Hendricks

WINDIES: Chris Gayle, Shai Hope (wk), Darren Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder (capt), Carlos Brathwaite, Ashley Nurse, Kemar Roach, Sheldon Cottrell, Oshane Thomas

Advertisement