Sports

When rain and number drowned South Africa’s World Cup dreams

Published

1 year ago

2024/12/3

South Africa’s captain Shaun Pollock is distraught after South Africa were knocked out of the 2003 World Cup in Durban, Pollock was sacked as captain after the hosts' first round exit.

Rex Clementine
in Durban

It was the unlikeliest of scripts: the host nation, South Africa, bowing out of the 2003 Cricket World Cup in their backyard, undone by a bizarre twist of fate – and a misread Duckworth-Lewis sheet. To borrow a line from Shakespeare, the fault lay not in the stars but in themselves.

South Africa’s hopes were sky-high as they hosted cricket’s crown jewel, much like the unifying fervor of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, where Nelson Mandela’s charm and Francois Pienaar’s leadership wove a fractured nation into a tapestry of pride. But on a rainy night in Durban, those dreams were washed away—quite literally—by Sri Lanka, in what remains one of the most talked-about matches in cricketing folklore.

Sri Lanka didn’t even win the game, but they didn’t need to. The Proteas, staring at a rain-curtailed chase, fell victim to faulty math – or more precisely, an incorrect interpretation of the Duckworth-Lewis method. With just one run needed to clinch the game, Mark Boucher blocked a ball, thinking the job was done. It wasn’t.

Jehan Mubarak, now Sri Lanka’s Data Analyst, was then a young 12th man with a critical role: carrying the Duckworth-Lewis sheet to the middle. A son of scientist Dr. Aziz Mubarak, Jehan was born in Washington DC and educated at Royal College. He was well-equipped for the task. Reflecting on the drama, he shared:

“I had to deliver the Duckworth-Lewis sheet to the team. Nicky Boje, South Africa’s 12th man, was doing the same for his side. The sheet clearly states that the scores listed are for a tie, not a win. You always need one more run to win. We read it correctly; they didn’t—and it cost them dearly.”

Mubarak’s delivery may not have been on the scorecard, but it was game-changing. As the rain began to pour, South Africa believed they were safe. They weren’t. The match ended in a tie, knocking the Proteas out and allowing Sri Lanka to advance.

During the game, Mubarak also made a brief appearance as a substitute fielder for Marvan Atapattu. But things didn’t go entirely smoothly:

Jehan Mubarak played an important role in knocking South Africa out of the 2003 World Cup. He didn’t play the game, but as 12th man, he carried the Duckworth Lewis sheet and had to convey the important message.

“Sanath (Jayasuriya) was yelling for me to take a catch, so I sprinted toward the ball. It was a tough chance, and I couldn’t hold on. The ball went for four, and I got an earful from the captain. In a game like that, every chance counts. Thankfully, it didn’t affect the result.”

At 22, Mubarak was the youngest player in the squad, playing just one match in the tournament—a forgettable outing against India where he fell for a second-ball duck to Javagal Srinath, the current Match Referee. But for Mubarak, the World Cup was a crash course in high-stakes cricket:

“It was a fantastic learning experience. Against South Africa, Marvan made a stunning hundred, and Aravinda de Silva chipped in with a brilliant 70. We were struggling at 90 for three, but their 150-run partnership turned things around. Watching those legends adjust to different conditions and handle pressure was invaluable for a young player.”

Mubarak recalls the advice he received from stalwarts like Sanath, Marvan, Hashan Tillakaratne, and Aravinda.

“They’d always say, ‘Play positive cricket. Don’t be afraid. Whatever the opposition does – sledging or pressure tactics – hold your ground and never take a backward step.’ Those words stayed with me.”

After hanging up his boots, Mubarak transitioned into coaching, even leading Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team to a series win in England. Later, Sanath Jayasuriya brought him into the senior team setup, recognizing his analytical mind. Today, Mubarak serves as the team’s Data Analyst, a role that suits his methodical nature:

“My job is to analyze data and share it with the coaches and players. We study not just our team but the opposition as well. At SLC’s Brain Center, we look at everything—batting patterns, bowling trends, field placements—and pass on actionable insights.”

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After Gaby Lewis won the toss and batted, the Ireland top three of Amy Hunter (24 in 15 balls), Lewis (25 in 30), and Orla Prendergast (24 in 22) all got starts and Ireland were at a solid 71 by the end of the tenth over. But by the 12th over, all three experienced batters were gone, and Ireland had only two other batters getting into double-digits – Louise Little, who scored 14 in 18 balls from No. 7, and Jane Maguire, who got 15 not out in 12 balls from No. 9.

Legspinner Suleepon Laomi took 4 for 24 for Thailand.

The 121 proved well beyond Thailand on the day. It was a series of single-digit scores for them, broken up only by the wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai and captain Naruemol Chaiwai, who scored 15 and 22 respectively and added 26 for the third wicket. There was next to nothing before and after them.

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West Indies seal consolation win in ten-over shootout

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9 hours ago

2026/02/1

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File photo: Gudakesh Motie claimed three quick wickets [Cricinfo]

West Indies claimed a consolation win in a match reduced to 10 overs a side at the Wanderers, to hand South Africa defeat in their first T20I in pink. With no ODIs scheduled in South Africa this summer, the annual fixture to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer treatment took place in the shortest format, and was made even shorter after prolonged delays for lightning.

Still, the sell-out crowd got their money’s worth in an entertaining encounter as both teams left everything on the field in their final competitive fixture before next month’s T20 World Cup.

With the series already won, South Africa may not be too unhappy with the outcome, especially as their middle order, untested in game one and two, had a hit out while West Indies’ ability to hold their nerve under pressure will stand them in good stead ahead of a major tournament. They secured a narrow win after two heavy defeats to leave South Africa with something to smile about.

West Indies’ innings started 75 minutes later than the scheduled 6pm start time after lightning strikes were spotted by the pilot in the flyover just before play. The match was reduced to 16 overs a side at that stage and West Indies came out swinging.Shai Hope carved the first ball through the covers for four and Johnson Charles also tried to take it on but Aiden Markram put a short over in place and Charles hit Ngidi straight to him for a three-ball duck.

Hope kept driving but it was Shimron Hetmyer, who arrived at the crease with neither a helmet nor a cap, who turned it on. He sent Ngidi into the stands and onto a spectator’s forehead for six (sidenote: the fan received a medical check-up) and then cleared deep backward square for six more. Hope hit Keshav Maharaj’s opening over for 18 but Markram kept faith in spin and brought himself on in the firth over. Hetmyer cut his first ball for four, then sent him over deep square leg for six and then Hope, off the last ball of the over, pulled Markram into the stands.

Linde delivered a tight second over but West Indies were in a strong position on 66 for 1 after six before the players were forced off again, as more lightning was spotted. Another hour’s delay reduced the match to 10 overs a side, which meant West Indies had just four overs left to bat when play resumed.

Corbin Bosch’s death-bowling was on display early with an over of good length deliveries before Hetmyer and Hope took on Maharaj again. His second over cost 20 but had some success when Hope hit him to Bosch at long-off. Rovman Powell sent Kwena Maphaka’s first and fifth ball for six and then gave Brevis a catch at deep cover before Hetmyer finished off. He ended the innings with his sixth six to finish on 48* off 22 balls. West Indies scored 114 for 3 in 10 overs and South Africa’s target was adjusted up to 125.

Quinton de Kock, fresh off of century at SuperSport Park, got South Africa to a perfect start with 19 runs off the opening over but Markram couldn’t get going in the same way. He top-edged Akeal Hosein straight up and Hosein did well to take the catch as Hetmyer ran in from extra cover and the pair were fortunate to avoid a collision. South Africa sent in Dewald Brevis ahead of Ryan Rickelton at No.3, and it was almost an early mistake. Brevis was dropped on 2 by Romario Shepherd at midwicket – making it West Indies’ third big-name drop in as many games (Markram in match one, Rickelton in match two) – and they would have wondered how costly it would be.

At first, they got rewarded at the other end. De Kock could not clear long-off and was caught on the rope by Powell to give Gudakesh Motie his first wicket of the series. Then, Rickelton and Brevis then combined for a 28-run stand off 11 balls, with two sixes each, but neither could sustain the momentum. Rickelton picked out Holder at long-on to become Motie’s second and Brevis, on 17, got a taste of his own medicine when he fell to a relay catch between Powell and Holder in the same over. South Africa were 63 for 4 after six overs, and needed 62 runs to win off the next four.

Jason Smith, picked as a finisher for the T20 World Cup, made his case with 20 off the first seven balls but did not get any strike in the penultimate over. South Africa needed 27 off 12 balls and Tristan Stubbs reduced that to 15 off the last five balls before he gave Smith strike to try and finish off. Shamar Joseph, in his first appearance in this series, was tasked with the final over. He went yorker length and took out Smith’s middle stump with his third ball, to leave South Africa needing nine runs off two balls. Bosch was dropped off the second last ball of the match when he skied Joseph to Powell at long-on and broke his bat in the process. He also didn’t ground the bat as he ran so South Africa were one-short, had to score eight off one and lost by six runs.

Brief scores:
West Indies 114 for 3 in 10 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 48*, Shai Hope 48, Rovman Powell 13; Lungi Ngindi 1-19, Keshav Maharaj 1-38, Kwena Maphaka 1-12) beat South Africa 118 for 6 in 10 overs (Quinton de Kock 28,Dewald Brevis 17, Ryan Rickelton 15, George Linde 17, Jason Smith 26, Tristan Stubbs 10*; Jason Holder 1-30, Akeal Hosein 1-25, Gudakesh Motie 3-17, Shamar Joseph 1-23) by 6 runs – DLS

[Cricinfo]