• Zimbabwe coach criticizes “ridiculous” World Cup conditions.
• T20 World Cup umpires’ decision to continue with Zimbabwe’s Super 12 match against South Africa.
• South Africa was poised to win in their revised chase of 64 in seven overs

The T20 World Cup umpires’ decision to continue with Zimbabwe’s Super 12 match against South Africa despite “ridiculous” quantities of rain has been criticized by Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton.

South Africa was poised to win in their revised chase of 64 in seven overs in a weather-affected stop-start encounter in Hobart until a final burst of storms caused a washout.

Quinton de Kock guided the total to 51 for no loss in three overs with an unbeaten 47 off 18 balls, but South Africa and Zimbabwe shared a draw in Group 2 on Monday.

To be frank, I don’t think we should have bowled a ball at all, Houghton remarked.

“But the men making those decisions in the centre are the umpires, and they appeared to believe it was appropriate to play. Even when I disagree, there isn’t much I can do off the field.

Zimbabwe won the toss and decided to bat, but their innings didn’t start until more than two hours and thirty minutes had passed due to rain, which also caused the game to be shortened to nine overs for each side.

De Kock answered Zimbabwe’s score of 79-5 with a flurry of fours and a six before further rain started to fall, forcing the umpires to continue cutting over the ball.

Houghton remarked, “At one point, the rain had gotten so thick, it was absurd.”

“It was hazy with mizzle for the majority of the game, but it progressed to the point where we could hear it banging on the roof in the dugout.

“To me, that means it’s time to leave the field; the rain and mizzle have stopped.

Additionally, the field was wet when we began play and again when South Africa on the field, making for challenging circumstances for both teams.

But while we bowled, the weather just grew worse and worse. I don’t believe the circumstances were appropriate to continue the game.

Richard Ngarava, a quick bowler for Zimbabwe, slipped and had to be injuredly removed.

He is resting in the locker room with a lot of ice strapped to his ankle, according to Houghton. We obviously don’t like the fact that he’s not in the best condition to bowl right now.

Zimbabwe would have wanted to continue if they had found themselves in a situation similar to that of the Proteas, according to South Africa coach Mark Boucher.

He said, “We also bowled with a ball that was extremely wet.

We were in a really advantageous situation. You leave this game believing that we were unfairly treated.

South Africa is now in a precarious position in a group that also included powerhouses Pakistan and India due to the washout. Only two of the group’s teams advance to the semi-finals.

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