Cricket-De Kock blitz in vain as rain rescues Zimbabwe v S Africa

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - ICC Men's T20 World Cup - Super 12 - Group 1 - Australia v Bangladesh - Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - November 4, 2021 Bangladesh's Taskin Ahmed in action REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Quinton de Kock's blistering knock nearly handed South Africa victory over Zimbabwe before rain played spoilsport in their T20 World Cup opener in Hobart on Monday and both teams ended up sharing the points.

South Africa were comfortably chasing a reduced target of 64 off seven overs, after the match was already reduced to nine overs per side due to rain, and made an electric start with De Kock smashing 23 in the first over alone.