Summer's definitely over! Rain ends hope of result in England's T20 with South Africa
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UPDATED:
21:36 GMT, 10 September 2012
England's second NatWest International Twenty20 against South Africa was abandoned after the weather allowed only one short, frantic session at Old Trafford.
England were 29 for two after 4.1 overs of their reply to South Africa's 77 for five in a match reduced to nine overs per side when steady rain began to fall.
A result would have been recorded had another five balls been bowled – and England would have won had they added another 13 – but South Africa will still lead the series 1-0 heading to the third match at Edgbaston.
Dampened spirits: England's Twenty20 against South Africa fell victim to the weather at Old Trafford
The match had been delayed by two and a
quarter hours by earlier rain but there was still a certain familiarity
to South Africa's batting as Hashim Amla again dominated.
The prolific batsman proved his
mastery of English bowling covers all formats by cracking seven fours in
an unbeaten 47 from 30 balls.
Amla, batting at much higher tempo but
with all his usual authority, opened the batting after a rethink during
the delay to play.
Jacques Kallis had initially
accompanied Richard Levi to the crease for the scheduled start but it
began to rain as Steven Finn prepared to bowl the first ball.
Kallis was kept waiting as the game
began at a frenetic pace with Finn having Levi caught behind by Craig
Kieswetter down the legside off the first ball.
Amla took control by flashing hard and
after the three-over powerplay South Africa had 32 runs on the board.
But by then captain AB de Villiers had also gone, miscuing a pull to
Jade Dernbach at mid-on off Finn.
As has been a recurring quirk this
season, Finn dislodged a bail in his delivery stride but unlike previous
occasions – and another moments later – dead ball was not called.
Entertainment: Much effort was made to keep the crowd entertained as the start was delayed
England started to slow the rate with the introduction of Graeme Swann in the fourth over.
Albie Morkel was the next man out when he failed to clear Jonny Bairstow at cover off the bowling of the recalled Luke Wright.
Amla had a reprieve when he was badly
dropped by Eoin Morgan off Swann but the bowler himself showed how it
should be done by running back to catch JP Duminy one-handed next ball.
Kieswetter claimed his second catch to
remove Justin Ontong off Dernbach before Kallis finally came to the
crease at number seven.
Kallis had a fortunate escape when one
shot landed just short of Dernbach but was unbeaten on 13 at the end of
the innings as rain started to fall again.
Worth watching: Hashim Amla's bat and Robin Peterson's safe hands lit up Old Trafford when the action started
Worth watching: Hashim Amla's bat and Robin Peterson's safe hands lit up Old Trafford when the action started
That relented to allow England to
begin their reply but Morne Morkel restricted Kieswetter and Alex Hales
to just two off the first over.
Kieswetter fell when he hit Dale Steyn straight but high and Robin Peterson took a fine diving catch.
Hales fortuitously hit a six off the edge and, in partnership with Wright, began to get England up towards a decent rate.
Wright had 14 at the start of the
all-important fifth over when he pulled Morne Morkel to Albie Morkel in
the deep. That proved the final action of the match as drizzle became
heavier and umpires took the players off the pitch.
Moments later came the word the game had been declared a no result.
Wright had come into the side to
replace the out-of-form Ravi Bopara, whose position had been the subject
of much scrutiny ahead of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
Sussex all-rounder Wright will now hope to retain his place for the final match of the series.
