HOBART: Rain played spoilsport as the Proteas were forced to settle for a point from a bizarre opening contest of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Zimbabwe in Hobart on Monday.

Persistent showers at the Bellerive Oval meant that play only got underway over two-and-a-half hours after the toss with the match reduced to nine overs per side.

After the Zimbabweans posted 79 for five, the South Africans, inspired by a dazzling 18-ball 47 from Quinton de Kock, responded with a brutal 51 for none in three overs chasing a revised target of 64 in seven.

But with just 13 required, the rain hammering down and umpires Ahsan Raza and Michael Gough having done everything possible to give the game a chance of being completed, the elements ultimately had the final say.

It means that both teams walked away with a point apiece and had plenty to do if they wanted to progress to the semi-finals.

The Proteas, who have a history of cruel luck when it comes to rain at World Cups, would have been optimistic of a positive start to the Super 12 stages of the competition against a Zimbabwe side ranked much lower than them in the world rankings.

However, some of that hope would have quickly evaporated when they got the ground with so much of rain lurking on Monday.

After waiting around for most part of the evening, good news finally arrived when the wet weather temporarily abated allowing of a T9 to be played. Zimbabwe had won the toss and opted to bat first, but they found themselves in a deep hole early on when they slipped to 19 for four.

The outstanding Wayne Parnell (1/6) and Lungi Ngidi (2/20) were the chief destroyers, before Wessly Madhevere (35 not out off 18 balls) helped the men in red recover to set a target of 80. There was also a wicket for Anrich Nortje, who was also superb with 1/10.

De Kock crunched 23 off the first over of the reply when he clubbed four boundaries and a six off Tendai Chatara, but two balls later rain forced the players off the field.

Four more boundaries by the wicketkeeper from the over bowled by Richard Ngarava meant the Proteas were flying towards that revised target at 40 for none after two overs.

Captain Temba Bavuma (2 not out), a spectator for the first two overs, finally faced a ball at the start of the third over sent down by Sikandar Raza in which 11 were conceded to see the South Africans race closer to the target.

However, rain intervened once more as the over concluded leaving the Proteas frustrated with the outcome of a no result in Hobart.

They next play Bangladesh in Sydney on Thursday.

South Africa squad - ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Australia 2022
Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Quinton de Kock (Momentum Multiply Titans), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Gbets Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Gbets Warriors), Wayne Parnell (Six Gun Grill Western Province), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rilee Rossouw (ITEC Knights), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tristan Stubbs (Gbets Warriors).

South Africa Group Stage Itinerary

Monday, 24 October – 19:00 (10:00 SAST)
South Africa vs Zimbabwe ended in a no result – Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Thursday, 27 October – 14:00 (05:00 SAST)
South Africa vs Bangladesh – SCG, Sydney

Sunday, 30 October – 19:00 (13:00 SAST)
India vs South Africa – Perth Stadium, Perth

Thursday, 03 November – 19:00 (10:00 SAST)
Pakistan vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney

Sunday, 06 November – 10:30 (02:00 SAST)
South Africa vs Netherlands – Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

[Submitted by Kevin Rademeyer]