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The Super 12 match between Zimbabwe and South Africa at the T20 World Cup in Hobart on Tuesday went on despite the “ridiculous” quantity of rain, which infuriated Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton. Batting first in the game between the two, Zimbabwe scored 79/5 in nine overs. The Proteas’ revised chase of 64 from 7 overs in response put them in position to win, but the game was abandoned owing to rain.

Houghton, however, did not find the proceedings to be very pleasant. To be frank, I don’t think we should have ever bowled a ball, Houghton said after the match, according to AFP.

“But the umpires are the guys making those decisions out in the middle and they seemed to think it was fit to play. I disagree with them, but there’s not much I can do off the field,” he added.

Zimbabwe won the toss and chose to bat, however the game did not start for more than two hours and thirty minutes due to rain, thus it was just nine overs per side.

“The rain had gotten so heavy at one stage, it was ridiculous,” said Houghton.

“For most of the evening it was misty with mizzle, but it got to the stage where we could hear it thumping on the roof in the dugout.

“To me that’s no longer mizzle and drizzle — that’s time to get off the field

“And the field was wet when we started, it was wet when South Africa fielded, so they were difficult conditions for both sides.

“But it just got more and more wet as we bowled. I don’t think the conditions were right to carry on playing.”

As Zimbabwean fast bowler Richard Ngarava was forced to leave the field after slipping, the playing circumstances did not seem to be very favorable.