Highlights, South Africa vs West Indies, ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 Match, Full Cricket Score: Match abandoned after rain plays spoilsport

Jason Holder, West Indies captain: Yeah really good start again with the bowlers. Sheldon’s been excellent with the new ball. So far we have been getting the new-ball wickets. We don’t mind giving away runs in the first 10 overs if we keep getting wickets. Hoping he (Andre Russell) pulls up alright in the next couple of days. Looking forward to the next game (against England). (Happy with three points in three games?) I guess so, but going back to the last game, but disappointed. (Rain spoiling a good start?) Beyond our control.

South Africa collect their first points in the World Cup! 

Faf du Plessis, South Africa captain: Both teams wanted to get some results, so very disappointed. (The difficult early phase) It’s like a Test match, the new ball. They (West Indian seamers) bowled well and that’s what makes them dangerous. Most of the time suits the team batting second. It was a 30-35 over game. You put some runs on the board, you can defend. Apart from Dale, Lungi will be ready for the next match. We are trying to have as strong a squad as possible. (Points scenario) It’s our own fault. We didn’t play our best cricket. From thereon (next match) if we get some momentum going then great, but first we’ve got to beat Afghanistan.

Time for cricketer-turned commentator Shaun Pollock to have a word with the two captains!

Done. Plug pulled. Game over. South Africa earn their first point of the tournament, but they slip further away from a semi-final berth. For the Windies, that’s won one, lost one, and this one. Even in the 7.3 overs bowled it was plain who the better team were — West Indies were scary, South Africa scared.

MATCH ABANDONED!

The umpires appeared with umbrellas aloft and did their thing, and now the rain is back and the covers that had been removed are coming on again. This one, folks, looks dead in the water.

And the covers are back on! The wait just keeps getting longer and longer!

And the result of the pitch inspection is … there will be another inspection at 3.45pm — in 20 minutes’ time. If we pass that test, play could be underway another 40 minutes later. An hour from now, in other words. Rassie van der Dussen has taken to walking around the covered area of the ground waving his bat in a threatening manner. An unrain dance? Or he could just be practising his pull shot …

Good news: pitch inspection at 3.15pm (UK time, or in 25 minutes), rain permitting. Bad news: the heavens are due to re-open at 4pm, this time with feeling. The groundstaff, helped by two super soppers, have drained the water off the covers.

It may, allegedly, perhaps, have stopped raining –a theory only strengthened by the sudden scurrying of several members of the groundstaff onto the covers. A good thing, too: there’s plenty of standing water to deal with. The good news is that none of it is on the outfield.

Not a sight one would want to see right now!

Have you already moved on from this year’s Cricket World Cup? 

Early lunch has been called, which is never a good sign for those who would rather watch cricket than rain. For the nerds, these teams have each won two of their last four ODIs against one other, although South Africa have prevailed in four of their six World Cup clashes –including the last three. Of course, all anyone ever remembers is the 1996 Karachi quarter-final, when Lara was brilliant and the South Africans forgot how to catch the ball.

It’s David Miller’s birthday today! Can the middle-order batsman celebrate the day with a big score at Southampton? That of course, depends on the weather allows him the opportunity…

British weather…

The clouds are a touch less heavy and the rain lighter, but it’s still falling. Plenty of puddles on the covers now. Too much coffee and too many biscuits being consumed in the pressbox.

South Africa fans are certainly not enjoying the World Cup!

While we wait for the clouds to clear up, why don’t you try out the ICC Cricket World Cup quiz here ?From the first edition in 1975 till now, go ahead and test your knowledge on cricket’s premier tournament!

Not a very happy look. 

Is AB de Villiers’ absence hurting South Africa in this World Cup? 

The rain has intensified and it’s looking gloomier than ever. At the start of the match, the ground was nowhere near as full as it was for South Africa’s game against India, and much of the crowd has dissipated in search of shelter. Not looking good.

News from Southampton: The weather’s not looking good, and the drizzle and has now turned into a heavy shower now. The covers are out, and will probably stay there over the next couple of hours at least, says on-air commentator Shaun Pollock.

South African fans clearly aren’t happy with their team’s performance so far in the tournament, as well as in this match. 

Meanwhile, West Indies legend Clive Lloyd expects a positive show from the Caribbean team in the rest of the tournament, and has warned not to take South Africa lightly. He also told his players to play ‘clever cricket’. Read more on that here .

South Africa, who are yet to win a game, may have lost the services of speedster Dale Steyn, but Kagiso Rabada has urged his teammates to forget their off-field problems. Rabada said more on this and you can read it here

Pity about the rain. You can’t not want to see fast bowling like this, even if you support South Africa. There’s a brutal beauty to it, like a fire tearing through a valley. So far, de Kock has been best equipped to survive the flames –no doubt because he plays now and thinks late. Du Plessis will also be key; he’s lived through seven balls so far.

Players are walking off the field, with the drizzle, that had been around for a while, getting heavier now. Oshane Thomas had just been brought into the attack and had bowled just one delivery, before the umpires decided to halt play for the time being. Let’s hope the rain subsides soon.

Faf du Plessis is playing his first ODI match against Windies since July, 2016.

After 7 overs,South Africa 28/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 16 , Faf du Plessis (C) 0)

Cottrell gets another wicket, this time getting Markram caught-behind with a short ball down the leg side. The Proteas skipper walks out to bat next, with his team off to a jittery start, much like Pakistan and Australia against the Windies earlier in the tournament. Onus is on him and the in-form de Kock to rescue the side to a competitive total from this point, like Smith and the rest of the middle order did for the Aussies. Excellent over from Cottrell, bowling out a wicket maiden.

Cottrell and Roach at South Africa’s throats here. Amla was outta there with a poor stroke, Markram looks a beaten, broken man after fiddling a catch down the leg side, and de Kock has survived a poor decision for caught behind as well as a brute of a ball that might have done him a nasty. Here comes Faf, South Africa’s best hope to take the game into the coming rain delay.

OUT! Fine catch by Shai Hope, as Sheldon Cottrell strikes again, this time getting Markram squared up with a short ball along the leg side at an uncomfortable angle! Out comes the salute again! SA 28/2

Markram c Hope b Cottrell 5(10)

After 6 overs,South Africa 28/1 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 16 , Aiden Markram 5)

Markram nudges at a back-of-length ball towards midwicket off the fourth delivery to collect a single after three dots. De Kock runs the ball down the ground for a brace off the last delivery. Three off Roach’s third over.

Quinton de Kock becomes the 13th player to complete 8,000 runs for South Africa in international cricket.

After 5 overs,South Africa 25/1 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 14 , Aiden Markram 4)

Cottrell fires a sharp bouncer at de Kock, who lobs it just out of the bowler’s reach. Roach saves a couple of runs for his team with a dive at backward point after a square drive by de Kock, who then ends the over with a boundary. Eight off the over.

FOUR! First boundary for de Kock, this one a lovely cover drive that the fielders had little chance of stopping. SA 25/1

After 4 overs,South Africa 17/1 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 6 , Aiden Markram 4)

Roach begins his second over with a wide down the leg side, with QDK collecting a singe off the second delivery. Markram finally gets off the mark with a lovely drive through the extra cover region. Six off the over.

FOUR! Shot! Just a push through the off side, the ball then beating the diving mid off fielder. Markram finally gets off the mark. SA 17/1

Most catches for Windies by fielders:

121 – CHRIS GAYLE*

120 – Carl Hooper 

117 – Brian Lara

Quinton de Kock’s average of 24.6 in ODIs against the Windies is his worst against any team in the format. De Kock has scored only 123 runs five innings against them with the highest score of 71.

After 3 overs,South Africa 11/1 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 5 , Aiden Markram 0)

De Kock pulls the ball between midwicket and mid on. On a good outfield, that would’ve been a boundary. Here it slows down, giving enough time for Brathwaite to pull the ball back inside and save a run. Amla then steers the ball through point to collect the first boundary of the innings. Cottrell strikes in the penultimate delivery, getting Amla caught-behind at slip with a back-of-length delivery. Aiden Markram walks out to bat next.

OUT! Sheldon Cottrell brings out the salute in just his second over of the day, as Amla nicks the ball to Gayle at slip off a back-of-length delivery. Another good start with the ball for the Windies. SA 11/1

Amla c Gayle b Cottrell 6(7)

FOUR! First boundary of the innings, as Amla steers a wide delivery from Cottrell through point! SA 11/0

After 2 overs,South Africa 4/0 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 2 , Hashim Amla 2)

De Kock is adjudged caught-behind off Roach’s first delivery of the World Cup, with the keeper-batsman reviewing it right away. Turns out to be a deflection off QDK’s shoulder, forcing umpire Paul Wilson to overturn his decision. De Kock collects an easy single two balls later. Just one off the over. Meanwhile, it’s pretty overcast at the Hampshire bowl, with the floodlights coming into effect right now.

After 1 over,South Africa 3/0 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 1 , Hashim Amla 2)

De Kock, on strike at the start of the Proteas innings, gets off the mark with a single after blocking the first four deliveries. Amla then gets underway, collecting a brace off the last delivery. Tidy start for Cottrell in the first over.

Hashim Amla has a batting average of 81.76 in the ODIs against the Windies which is the best for any player against an opponent in this format. (Min: 1000 runs) 

Hashim Amla needs to score 71 more runs in his next one innings to become to fastest to 8,000 ODI runs. 

Quinton de Kock needs to score 12 more runs to complete 8,000 runs in international cricket.

Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla walk out to the centre, hoping to get the Proteas off to a strong start in order to establish the foundation for a big total. Sheldon Cottrell to open the bowling.

Faf du Plessis loses the toss for the first time. Jason Holder says will have a go at knocking your block off, thank you. The underperforming JP Duminy is replaced by the tentatively recovering Aiden Markram, and left-arm fast bowler Beuran Hendricks — just off the plane in place of the injured Dale Steyn – is in for left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. Sensible moves both. The Windies have brought in Darren Bravo for Evin Lewis. Lots of cloud but no rain. Yet …

West Indies XI: C Gayle, S Hope, DM Bravo, N Pooran, S Hetmyer, J Holder, C Brathwaite, A Nurse, K Roach, S Cotterrell, O Thomas. 

Two changes in the Windies team: Bravo and Roach in for Lewis and Russell.

South Africa XI: H Amla, Q de Kock, F du Plessis, A Markram, R van der Dussen, D Miller, A Phehlukwayo, C Morris, K Rabada, I Tahir, B Hendricks. 

The Proteas make two changes to their team, bringing Markram and Hendricks into the side.

Jason Holder, West Indies captain: Last defeat obviously hurt us, and we want to get over it. Overcast conditions all around and rain is expected.

Faf du Plessis, South Africa captain: Wanted to bowl first as well looking at the conditions. It’s a six-week tournament, and if you can turn the momentum around, you can ride it. Markram and Hendricks in the XI today.

TOSS: West Indies win the toss, and skipper Jason Holder opts to bowl first.

Head to Head in ODIs:

Overall : South Africa (44), West Indies (15)
In World Cup : South Africa (4), West Indies (2)
Since 2015 : South Africa (6), West Indies (3)

South Africa have won only two out of their last 10 ODIs in England.

South Africa have won each of their last three World Cup games against West Indies.

The threat of rain is receding, but it is on its way. Neither team want that, less so the South Africans. The prospect of a reinvigorated Windies pace attack letting fly at South Africa’s wounded batsmen will attract many. How Faf du Plessis’ bruised thumb stands up to that challenge will be a key aspect.

JUST IN: Yuvraj Singh has announced his retirement from international cricket. He announced this during a press conference in Mumbai. You can read more about that here

Hello and welcome to Firstpost’s LIVE coverage of ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, where South Africa play West Indies at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. Stay tuned for latest updates and scores.