Zim out of Twenty20 as it rains again

Rain once again affected a World Twenty20 match as the teams were forced off the pitch in Zimbabwe's game against New Zealand.

Fortunately, enough overs had been bowled to achieve a result under the much-maligned Duckworth-Lewis system.

However, the wisdom of holding such an important tournament in the Caribbean at this time of the year is clearly open to question.

New Zealand won the toss and chose to field, which was the obvious thing to do when there was a likelihood of rain.

Zimbabwe made a good start and were 58/1 in the seventh over before Hamilton Masakadza was run out for 20. Tatenda Taibu had been the first to go for an enterprising 21 made from 14 balls.

However, the innings then fell apart, with four wickets falling in 11 balls, three of them in one over, the ninth, bowled by Nathan McCullum. Three more wickets fell in the 13th over, bowled by Scott Styris, and Zimbabwe were on 74/9, eventually being dismissed for 84.

New Zealand reached 36/1 in the ninth over before rain stopped play. The target was then reduced twice before the match was ended and Zimbabwe were eliminated. Nathan McCullum's brother Brendon became the first man to score 1000 runs in T20 internationals in the process.

At the time of writing the prospects for play in the later match, when England were to take on Ireland, were not promising. If there were no play in that match England would progress to the Super Eights by virtue of a superior net run rate.