"South Africa and rain is a match made in hell" - Fans slam ICC as 'unlucky' Proteas lose one point due to rain vs ZIM in T20 World Cup

South Africa (SA) will be distraught to have shared points with Zimbabwe in their opening game of the T20 World Cup 2022 on Monday. The match was reduced to nine overs per side and Zimbabwe posted a target of 80 runs for the Proteas.

SA got off to a rollicking start, thanks to Quinton de Kock, as they raced to 51/0 in just three overs. Due to consistent rain interruptions, they were just 13 runs away from a revised target of 64 in seven overs by applying the Duckworth Lewis method.

The rain didn't stop before the cut-off time for a five-over game and the match officials decided that it had to be abandoned. Fans on Twitter were in disbelief as South Africa had already gone beyond the par score for a five-over game and yet had to concede a point.

Fans also slammed the ICC and the officials for making five overs as a cut-off to get a result in a nine-over game. Here are some of the reactions:

H🇿🇦

@breathaidoz4

Keep SA matches in sahara desert,then also somehow rain will manage to ruin it

40

2

Keep SA matches in sahara desert,then also somehow rain will manage to ruin it 😭👎

Rohit Sharma

@VED4NTM4

SOUTH Africa Has To Be The Most Unluckiest Team To Ever Exist.
#T20WorldCup #CricketTwitter #SAvZIM

SOUTH Africa Has To Be The Most Unluckiest Team To Ever Exist.
#T20WorldCup #CricketTwitter #SAvZIM

Udit

@udit_buch

Even as a neutral I feel sad for SA. This is pathetic from ICC, why you need a 5 over cut off for a 7 over game 🤦🏻‍♂️

127

10

Even as a neutral I feel sad for SA. This is pathetic from ICC, why you need a 5 over cut off for a 7 over game 🤦🏻‍♂️

Shilpak.

@ugach_kahitarii

5 over cut-off for a 9 over game?

2

5 over cut-off for a 9 over game? https://t.co/F0L9fii4WL

Johns.

@CricCrazyJohns

South Africa, rain, ICC tournaments are never good friends.

1720

146

South Africa, rain, ICC tournaments are never good friends.

Vishesh Koul

@visheshkoul

Full form of DLS
D-Definitely
L- Loathes
S-SouthAfrica

6

1

Full form of DLS
D-Definitely
L- Loathes
S-SouthAfrica

Dave

@CricketDave27

1. Zimbabwe batting first
2. SA opening with Bavuma
3. Getting in the overs needed for a contest but it still being a no result thanks to the umpires and officials setting ridiculous playing conditions.

All round tactical nightmare from everybody involved, well done

57

5

1. Zimbabwe batting first
2. SA opening with Bavuma
3. Getting in the overs needed for a contest but it still being a no result thanks to the umpires and officials setting ridiculous playing conditions.

All round tactical nightmare from everybody involved, well done

Prithvi

@Puneite_

I am once again appealing to our honorable PM Modiji, we can solve the drought crisis in our country in one go. Just pretend to host a ICC tournament match featuring South Africa in a drought stricken region and there is 1000% guarantee it will rain there. Just try it

724

71

I am once again appealing to our honorable PM Modiji, we can solve the drought crisis in our country in one go. Just pretend to host a ICC tournament match featuring South Africa in a drought stricken region and there is 1000% guarantee it will rain there. Just try it 🙏

Aakash Chopra

@cricketaakash

In the 3rd over itself, South Africa was well past what the DLS score was supposed to be at the 5th over mark. But it has to be a minimum 5 over game. Quirks of our wonderful game. #T20WorldCup

2000

61

In the 3rd over itself, South Africa was well past what the DLS score was supposed to be at the 5th over mark. But it has to be a minimum 5 over game. Quirks of our wonderful game. #T20WorldCup

David

@CricketFreakD1

If bad luck had a face : twitter.com/ICC/status/158…

ICC

@ICC

Points shared with persistent rain in Hobart 🤝

#SAvZIM | #T20WorldCup | : bit.ly/SAvZIM-Super12

4

158

Points shared with persistent rain in Hobart 🤝

#SAvZIM | #T20WorldCup | 📝: bit.ly/SAvZIM-Super12 https://t.co/Ktn0Sd7YRQ

If bad luck had a face : twitter.com/ICC/status/158…

Mufaddal Vohra

@mufaddal_vohra

Feel for South Africa here - it could've been an easy win for them requiring just 13 in the last 4 overs. The rain has damaged their victory here, tough luck.

4723

226

Feel for South Africa here - it could've been an easy win for them requiring just 13 in the last 4 overs. The rain has damaged their victory here, tough luck.

James Norton-Brown

@JamesNBCricket

If South Africa had won that match their qualification chances would have stood at 55%, with the no result they see them drop to 38%. A potentially decisive moment in the group; it means that the SA v Pakistan match may effectively be an elimination game for SA. #T20WorldCup

211

36

If South Africa had won that match their qualification chances would have stood at 55%, with the no result they see them drop to 38%. A potentially decisive moment in the group; it means that the SA v Pakistan match may effectively be an elimination game for SA. #T20WorldCup

Blessing Jokerbani (Perry's version)

@Jokeresque_

South Africa and rain is a match made in hell. This single image from 1992 wc sf is proof of it. From needing 22 off 13, rain interruption meant their revised target was 22 of 1 ball.

80

11

South Africa and rain is a match made in hell. This single image from 1992 wc sf is proof of it. From needing 22 off 13, rain interruption meant their revised target was 22 of 1 ball. https://t.co/guWhFNxWeF

∆nkit🏏

@CaughtAtGully

Day light robbery this. South Africa, world cup and Rains. Unreal 🤣🤣

8

Day light robbery this. South Africa, world cup and Rains. Unreal 🤣🤣 https://t.co/jAKHmwo706

Yashraj

@yashhitange

I may have laughed what just happened here, but tbh if it was India receiving end, all ppl along with me would be bashing ICC for this pathetic mindless rule in place.

SA in ICC Tournaments with Rain has better Love story than Afridi with Ducks #T20WorldCup

2

1

I may have laughed what just happened here, but tbh if it was India receiving end, all ppl along with me would be bashing ICC for this pathetic mindless rule in place.

SA in ICC Tournaments with Rain has better Love story than Afridi with Ducks #T20WorldCup

Cricketologist

@AMP86793444

South Africa, rain and World Cups are a match made in heaven!

21

1

South Africa, rain and World Cups are a match made in heaven! https://t.co/vegOIKruhA

CricketMAN2

@ImTanujSingh

Heartbreak and disappointment for South Africa team. They scored 51/0 in 3 overs and needs just 13 runs from 24 balls to win in this match. But now due to rain points spilits 1-1 in two teams in this T20 World Cup 2022.

122

7

Heartbreak and disappointment for South Africa team. They scored 51/0 in 3 overs and needs just 13 runs from 24 balls to win in this match. But now due to rain points spilits 1-1 in two teams in this T20 World Cup 2022.

HL

@Haarrre

Genuinely insane. South Africa have already reached the 5 over target required.

17

7

Genuinely insane. South Africa have already reached the 5 over target required.

Vinayakk

@vinayakkm

"...but unfortunately it seems that the rain has won *again* versus South Africa," says Shaun Pollock on air, with an emphasis on again, that you could feel.

#T20WorldCup

31

5

"...but unfortunately it seems that the rain has won *again* versus South Africa," says Shaun Pollock on air, with an emphasis on again, that you could feel.

#T20WorldCup

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Barring any upsets, South Africa vs Pakistan could be a virtual knockout

Due to the abandoned game against Zimbabwe, SA will probably need to beat Pakistan to qualify for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup. Team India already have two points on the board, and today's result means that if they win against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and the Netherlands, they will qualify for the semifinals.

With the other teams arguably weaker, it looks like a three-horse race among India, Pakistan and South Africa for two semifinal spots, unless there's an upset on the cards. Even De Kock's 47*(18) balls was not enough for the Proteas to get a result and they will consider themselves very unlucky.

Rain has already dashed their hopes in ICC tournaments in the past, with the 1992 and 2003 editions of the World Cup being prime examples. They will hope that they don't get knocked out of the Super 12 stage through no fault of their own.

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