Controversy as South Africa and Kenya eliminated from the under-19 World Cup and Nepal advance.

South Africa's final group game was abandoned at 1.30pm in extraordinary circumstances. Heavy rains meant that the outfield was unfit for play.

This leaves South Africa on three points. However in an interview with CRICINFO the South African manager revealed that they are not resigned to a place in the Plate League. They have contacted the ICC and BCCSL to clarify whether they have a zero run rate.

It had been previously believed that South Africans could not have a net run rate at all due to the use of Duckworth Lewis method in their match against Nepal. If you don't have a net run rate then you can surely not have a zero net run rate.

It appears that this new interpretation of the rule, has been accepted by someone in authority. The Kenyan cricket team has been informed that they have to score the 107 in a stipulated number of overs to have a positive Net Run Rate.

The situation is bound to lead to controversy. If the Kenyans lose their match against Nepal the sudden change in the tournament rules will have played a part. The Kenyans have lost quick wickets by trying t score the runs in the stipulated time period and are presently 60-5 off 11 overs.

Whatever the outcome the situation the confusion is unacceptable in an international tournament.

Latest: Nepal beat Kenya by 14 runs, thus relegating both South Africa and Kenya to the Plate competition, and qualifying themselves. Given the circumstances of the win, with Kenya chasing what appears to be a net run rate target set under dubious circumstances, both African countries will be extremely unhappy at the turn of events.