At the Wanderers on Sunday night after defeat against New Zealand had pushed South Africa to the brink of elimination from the World Cup, Shaun Pollock all but pleaded for a lifeline to be thrown South Africa’s way. In Benoni on Tuesday, the lifeline duly made its appearance as the West Indies Pool B match against Bangladesh at Willowmoore Park was washed out before a result could be achieved.
The West Indies had made 244 for nine in their 50 overs to which Bangladesh had replied with 32 for two off 8.1 overs before rain, which had threatened all day, forced the players off the field at 2.55pm.
They were never to return.
For a result to be achieved, both teams must have batted for a minimum of 25 overs. The washout leaves the West Indies and Bangladesh each with two points from the match.
The significance of all this is that the fate of the host nation has placed back in the hands of the South Africans. Before Tuesday’s washout, the only way South Africa could stay in the tournament was to win all three of their remaining matches, including their last game against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead on March 3. At the same time, South Africa had to hope for a West Indian victory over Sri Lanka at Newlands on February 28.
The West Indies-Sri Lanka match remains the pivotal game in the pool, but South Africa will still be in with a sniff whichever way this match goes.
Always assuming that there are no upsets in the remaining pool matches and the weather plays no part, if the West Indies win they are likely to top the group with South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand involved in a run-rate count-out. If Sri Lanka win, however, they would qualify for the Super Sixes along with New Zealand and South Africa with the West Indies dropping out.
Whatever happens, though, South Africa need to win their remaining games as well as possible in order to keep their run rate as high as possible.
The washout was a blow for the West Indies, but not yet a fatal wound. West Indies captain Carl Hooper was philosophical afterwards. ”We can’t do anything about the weather,” he said. ”We’ve been in situations where rain has saved the West Indies. Today it saved Bangladesh.”
The cricket itself was largely forgettable on a slow pitch on which the ball occasionally seemed to stop. Sent in by Bangladesh, the West Indians were relatively pedestrian through the first 40 overs of their innings, before Ricardo Powell, who hammered three sixes and three fours in a 31-ball 50, ensured that 86 came off the last 10 overs.
There were also contributions up the order from Brian Lara (46) and Hooper (45), but the opening pair of Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds once against failed to kick-start the innings and their lack of form is becoming a concern for the West Indians.
As is the catching of the West Indians. Although they picked up two wickets in the brief Bangladeshi innings, they also managed to drop three catches in the slip cordon with Hooper spilling two and Gayle one. It was a largely undistinguished day.
More cricket in our Cricket World Cup special report