Cricket

Rain dents South Africa chances of semi-final hopes #CWC19

South Africa’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup semi-finals were dented when their match against West Indies was rained off.

The Proteas, who lost their first three games, reached 29-2 in the 7.3 overs possible in Southampton.

They collected their first World Cup point but face a struggle to finish in the top four in the group stage.

“We are in a bad position but it’s our own fault,” said South Africa captain Faf du Plessis.

“We haven’t played our best cricket so far and we need a solid performance to get the team’s confidence up.”

South Africa remain second from bottom of the table while West Indies climb two places to fifth.

Only 40 minutes of play were possible before persistent rain forced the players off. Play was finally abandoned at 16:15 BST.

Sheldon Cottrell had Hashim Amla taken at slip for six and Aiden Markram caught down the leg side for five in claiming figures of 2-18.

West Indies skipper Jason Holder said: “We had a really good start again with the ball. Sheldon was excellent again with the new ball. It was unfortunate that the weather came.”

TMS podcast: Rain, retirements and the evolution of pace bowling
World Cup fixtures & results – who plays who, where and when
World Cup table and stats – who’s on course for the semi-finals?
This was the second match of the World Cup to be abandoned because of rain, following the wash-out between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on Friday.

Rain is also forecast on Tuesday at Bristol, where Bangladesh meet Sri Lanka, and on Wednesday at Taunton, where Australia play Pakistan.

West Indies face England at Southampton on Friday, while South Africa take on Afghanistan at Cardiff on Saturday.

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell missed Monday’s game with a knee injury, but Holder said: “We are hoping he pulls up all right. I guess it is a blessing this game is over and we can look forward to the game against England.”

You might also like… Canada to ban single-use plastics from 2021

Trudeau said producers of other plastics — such as bottles or food packaging — will be held responsible for ‘the entire life-cycle’ of their products.
Canada will ban single-use plastics from 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday, declaring it a “global challenge” to phase out the plastic bags, straws and cutlery clogging the world’s oceans.

Justin Trudeau

“I am very pleased to announce that as early as 2021, Canada will ban harmful, single-use plastics from coast to coast,” Trudeau said, arguing Canada has a unique chance to lead the fight against plastic pollution as the country with the world’s longest coastlines.

Less than 10 per cent of plastics used in Canada are currently recycled, he said. continue reading…

Source – BBC