The Proteas claimed their first log point of the 2019 World Cup campaign after the rain-hit match against the West Indies in Southampton was abandoned.
South Africa went into the match on Monday desperately needing a positive result. The inclement weather put paid to their ambitions of victory, though, and saw them sharing the spoils with the West Indies.
Jason Holder won the toss and didn’t hesitate to ask the Proteas to bat. Opposite number Faf du Plessis admitted that he would also have bowled first – and used the overcast conditions – if he was given the choice to do so.
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Sheldon Cottrell removed the struggling Hashim Amla and then accounted for Aiden Markram – who had replaced JP Duminy in the Proteas XI – through a well-directed short delivery. The West Indian left-arm quick marched down the pitch in the wake of each dismissal before executing his trademark salute.
Rain interrupts play ☂️🌧️
Sheldon Cottrell picked up the early wickets of both Amla and Markram to leave the Proteas on 29/2 after 7.3 overs. The covers are on to protect the pitch for now.
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The storm broke in the eighth over when the Proteas were in trouble at 29-2. Quinton de Kock, who successfully reviewed a bizarre caught-behind decision earlier in his innings, and Du Plessis were in the midst of rebuilding when the rain brought a halt – and ultimately an end – to the contest.
The game was officially abandoned at 4:15pm (local time).
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The Proteas will need to win their remaining five fixtures in order to progress to the semi-finals. They can’t afford to lose another game, having lost their first three matches against England, Bangladesh and India.
South Africa will face Afghanistan in a day-night match in Cardiff on Saturday.
Photo: Alex Davidson/Getty Images
