the SEMI-FINAL - and that rain rule...
Mar 22, Sydney: England 252-6 beat South Africa 232-6 by 19 runs (revised target)
England made the final in controversial fashion as the last overs of this semi-final descended into farce and brought the competition’s committee and their infamous rain rule under scrutiny.
Requiring 22 from the last 13 balls in pursuit of England’s 252, Kepler Wessels’ South African side were slightly ahead of the game. But with the players taken off the field for 12 minutes as dark clouds turned to rain, the target was reduced – first to 22 from seven balls and then, bizarrely, to 22 from just one. With the result done and dusted before Brian McMillan patted away Chris Lewis’ final delivery, the inquest began. But speaking to The Cricket
Paper, Derek Pringle remains adamant that England were deserved winners and that South African cynicism came back to bite them.
“Twenty-two from 13 balls was no easy task,” says Pringle. “That was tough in those conditions with Defreitas nipping it about.
“South Africa bowled their overs slowly and only got 45 in, and I believe we were on for a big score. The rain rule punished the side bowling first, no doubt, but I felt justice was done and the right team progressed.”