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Proteas creep closer to CWC exit after Windies washout

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Ground staff hard at work on the Rose Bowl turf after Monday's rain (Getty).
Ground staff hard at work on the Rose Bowl turf after Monday's rain (Getty).

Southampton - South Africa need other results to go their way if they are to make the semi-finals of the 2019 Cricket World Cup

Monday's 'no-result' against the West Indies in Southampton means that the most the Proteas can finish on is 11 log points. 

While there are many avenues left that could still result in the Proteas progressing to the playoffs, there are at least four teams who can finish on at least 12 points and that would see the South Africans eliminated. 

On a day where victory was vital to the South African cause, the players looked on as the rain fell on the Rose Bowl turf for most of the day. 

When play was first stopped, South Africa had battled their way to 29/2 from 7.3 overs having lost the toss. 

Under gloomy skies, Hashim Amla (6 off 7) and Aiden Markram (5 off 10) lost their wickets to left-arm Windies quick Sheldon Cottrell. 

Quinton de Kock (17* off 21) and skipper Faf du Plessis (0* off 7) were at the crease with their side well and truly on the back foot.  

The rain stopped on several occasions, resulting in the ground staff beginning work on mopping up the water on and around the covers, but it never stayed away long enough to allow the players back on the field. 

The match was eventually called at 16:15 local time (17:15, SA time).

While South Africa have now earned their first log point of the competition, there is no room left for error and they must win their next five matches. 

They still have to play against Afghanistan (Cardiff, June 15), New Zealand (Edgbaston, June 19), Pakistan (Lord's, June 23), Sri Lanka (Chester-Le-Street, June 28) and Australia (Manchester, July 6). 

The Afghanistan match is one that the Proteas will consider an absolute 'banker', but a quick look at the weather forecast suggests that there will be drizzle throughout the morning there too. 

@LloydBurnard is in England covering the 2019 Cricket World Cup for Sport24 ...   

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