Delayed semi has cricket writer stumped

In what is a ridiculous situation, the Standard Bank Cup semifinal between Gauteng and Eastern Province - the third and deciding leg of which was rained out at the Wanderers on Sunday with the home side on 98/0 after 16 overs - will continue on Monday at 10am.

The United Cricket Board of SA made provision for a reserve day in the event of rain, but with the objective of ensuring a fair contest for both sides, the question must be asked: why could a new, 45-over-a-side match, could not be played on Monday?

Gauteng will certainly be chuffed with the state of play, having batted at 6,13 runs to the over in a match that was reduced to 32 overs-a-side because of the rain on Sunday morning, but their openers Adam Bacher and Andrew Hall will now have to start cold on Monday morning as their side face the remaining 16 overs in the innings.

When play did finally get under way at 1.30pm on Sunday, Hall set the tone for Gauteng by immediately getting after the bowling. He was granted a let-off, however, when he had scored just five and EP were left to rue what would have been a significant breakthrough.

It was in the fourth over of the innings with the total on 11 when Hall slashed at a delivery from Mfuneko Ngam, edging the ball to Dave Callaghan at first slip.

Callaghan, who was man of the match in Friday's second-leg match at the Wanderers when EP's victory tied things up at 1-1, spilt the relatively straightforward chance and Hall went on to register his seventh limited-overs career half-century.

He is scheduled to resume on 53 on Monday, scored off just 48 balls, with five fours and a six; with Bacher on 37 at the other end, off 49 balls, with four boundaries.

Meyrick Pringle completed his seven overs - the allocation was reduced to a maximum of seven overs for two bowlers and six for each of three bowlers - on Sunday and, although he was relatively inexpensive, conceding 26 runs, EP captain Mark Rushmere will be disappointed that his main strike bowler failed to take a wicket.

Ngam, who took the new ball from the other end, went for 23 runs in three overs, Garnett Kruger replaced him and was pummelled for 34 runs in four overs, and Callaghan and Justin Kemp each conceded seven runs off a single over apiece.

If rain prevents the completion of what has now become a 32-over-a-side match on Monday, a new, 45-over-a-side contest will be played as a day game on Tuesday.

The winner of this match, if it is ever completed, will meet Border in the final on March 29.