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“I don’t think we should have bowled a ball,” says Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton

Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton has blasted the umpires’ decision to continue their Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 match against South Africa despite “atrocious” weather.

The Proteas were on the verge of triumph in their revised chase of 64 in seven overs in Hobart when a last burst of storms caused a washout. During the chase, Zimbabwe fast bowler Richard Ngarava stumbled and had to be helped off the field, despite the fact that the umpires allowed the players to continue. Finally, the match was called off with South Africa on 51 not out in three overs chasing Zimbabwe’s 79/5 in a Super 12 Group 2 encounter in the ICC T20 World Cup on Monday.

“I appreciate the need to get these games for the general public and everyone else. I appreciate the need for us to play in slightly adverse weather in order to gain a win, but I believed we had to accept that mark in this game and that we should have come off four or five overs ago,” Houghton told reporters.

Quinton de Kock (47* off 18 balls) had guided South Africa to 51-0 in three overs, but the two teams shared a point in Group 2.

“To be honest, I don’t think we should have bowled a ball,” Houghton added. “But it’s the umpires who make those choices out in the middle, and they seemed to believe it was safe to play. I disagree with them, but there isn’t much I can do about it.”

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat, however their innings began after a two-and-a-half-hour rain delay, and the match was cut to nine overs each side.

Zimbabwe, according to Proteas coach Mark Boucher, would have wanted to continue if they had found themselves in a same situation as the Proteas.

“We bowled with a wet ball as well,” he explained. “We were in a great situation. You leave this game believing we were treated unfairly.”

According to Houghton, “I felt the rain had gotten ridiculously heavy all at once. It was misty, sort of mizzle and everything for much of the evening, but it came to the point where we could hear it banging on the rooftop in the dugout. That’s no longer mizzle and drizzle to me. It’s time to leave the field.”

“The field was soaked. We began out in the rain. It was raining as South Africa took the field, making conditions challenging for both teams. As we bowled, it became very damp. It’s too wet when your keeper is sliding down the leg side while standing up to the spinners. I don’t believe the conditions were favourable to continue playing.”

South Africa is now in a difficult position in a group that includes giants India and Pakistan. Only two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals.

 

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