Rain-hit Durban ODI abandoned

The second Momentum ODI between South Africa and England was abandoned following persistent rain at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.

South Africa had reached 71 for two in 11.2 overs in two brief sessions of play before the umpires finally admitted defeat at 7pm CAT (SA, GMT+2). Opener Reeza Hendricks was South Africa’s top scorer, finishing with an unbeaten 35 in 34 balls, including three fluent driven fours.

The no-result leaves South Africa 1-0 up in the three-match series with the final match taking place at the Imperial Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.

“It was disappointing that we couldn’t get a game in,” said Proteas’ captain Quinton de Kock afterwards. “But Sunday – Pink Day in aid of cancer – is a huge day for all South Africans and we want to go out there and clinch the series at the Wanderers.

It was a frustrating day for players and spectators in Durban after play started 105 minutes late at 2.45pm after persistent drizzle in the morning.

The match was initially reduced to 45 overs per team, with England winning the toss and putting their opponents in to bat. South Africa had reached 38 for one in 6.3 overs before the rain returned.

The players came back three hours later, with the match now reduced to 26 overs a team. This time, only 15 minutes’ play was possible.

The two South African batsmen to fall were De Kock, bowled by Joe Root’s arm ball as he tried to cut, and Temba Bavuma who struck a six and a four in a quickfire 21 before falling leg-before to Chris Jordan.

SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (capt & wk), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, JJ Smuts, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Beuran Hendricks, Lutho Sipamla, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bjorn Fortuin

ENGLAND: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), Joe Denly, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Matthew Parkinson