RSA VS ZIM - 18th Match, Super 12 Group 2, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2022

South Africa, World Cup and rain; we have seen that story before and it has reached a stage where the South African supporters will be like "Why always us?", but that's nature and there's very little anyone can do. This result is a huge dent for their semi-final hopes as it will leave them in a must-win situation in the rest of the games. Zimbabwe will take a point happily as it ensures they start their Super 12s without a defeat. That's all for today. Tomorrow we have the defending champions seeking to bounce back against Sri Lanka. Do join us for that. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

23:12 Local Time, 12:12 GMT, 17:42 IST: The rain has the final say and the game has been called off. It is not the first time South Africa have been dented by the rain in a World Cup and it might not be the last. The forecast was never good with the first game also witnessing some rain, but we got the toss and teams ready and just when we were about to begin, the clouds opened up. There was a delay of more than two hours and the game was reduced to 9 overs per side. South Africa came out firing with Ngidi being involved in the first three dismissals. Madhevere and Shumba led the recovery with a 50+ partnership and gave Zimbabwe something to defend. de Kock wasted no time as he smashed Chatara for 23 runs in the first over and carried on to punish Ngarava in the second, but couple more rain delays after that ensured the points were shared.

23:07 Local Time, 12:07 GMT, 17:37 IST: Oh no! The rain was falling all this while but the umpires have decided they can't continue anymore. It is quite heavy and the two umpires - Ahsan Raza and Michael Gough - tried their best to keep the players out. But Zimbabwe were really struggling and also making it clear for the umpires it is difficult to field or bowl in these wet conditions. We have 8 minutes before the cut-off time. 23:15 Local, 17:45 IST is the latest by which play needs to start. Looks very unlikely because the big cover is being nailed in.

Raza to de Kock, 3 runs, fired outside off and de Kock has to reach for it, he slices it with an open face over the backward point region and Bavuma races back for the third. South Africa need 13 more

Free-hit coming up

Raza to de Kock, no ball, 2 runs, fraction short and around off, de Kock makes room and cuts it square on the off-side, easy brace. The third umpire has spotted Raza overstepping and makes a late call

Raza to de Kock, no run, Zimbabwe don't lose a review. This was so close that de Kock was almost walking back when he saw the first replay but was asked to wait by his skipper. The slider which drifts in with the angle, de Kock sits down and misses the slog sweep, struck in front of the stumps and ball-tracking showed it to be kissing the leg-stump

Zimbabwe review! Confident appeal for LBW but umpire Michael Gough wasn't convinced. Ervine doesn't waste much time to send it upstairs. Struck the front pad and then the back thigh. No bat as per UltraEdge. Ball-tracking shows umpire's call on hitting. Not Out!

Raza to Bavuma, 1 run, fired down leg, Bavuma premeditates the reverse sweep and jams it into the off-side

Raza to de Kock, 1 run, short and bowled into the wicket, de Kock nails the pull straight to deep mid-wicket

Raza to de Kock, 2 runs, fraction short and de Kock swats the pull in front of square through the vacant mid-wicket pocket, just a brace

Raza goes round the wicket

Raza to Bavuma, 1 run, flatter and cramping Bavuma for room, he gloves the reverse sweep in front of point and gets de Kock back on strike

Sikandar Raza, right-arm off break, comes into the attack

Ngarava to de Kock, FOUR, this is terrific hitting. de Kock makes room and slashes the short of length delivery backward of point. Ngarava is down on the ground and is clutching his left thigh. Hamstring injury?

Ngarava to de Kock, no run, no width on offer and right at the stumps, de Kock defends it down the pitch

Ngarava to de Kock, FOUR, it is boundary or nothing for de Kock. Ngarava overcooks the full delivery outside off and de Kock drills the drive through the off-side. Not a muscle move as the ball raced away

Ngarava to de Kock, FOUR, Madhevere puts in a desperate dive but it is not good enough to stop the boundary. Short of length and de Kock swivels to pull it behind square on the leg-side, Madhevere moves to his left from deep square leg and gets there, but the ball bounces of his body and rolls into the rope

FYI, the rain is back

Ngarava to de Kock, FOUR, de Kock wants to get this done with. Full delivery outside off and he pumps it over extra cover, couple of bounces and over the rope