DURBAN, South Africa: The first Twenty20 international between South Africa and Pakistan was abandoned because of rain at Kingsmead yesterday.
Rain fell for most of the afternoon and was still falling at the scheduled time for the toss.
Although the pitch area was covered there were large puddles on the outfield and ground staff said it would have taken at least two hours to get the field ready if the rain stopped.
The umpires called off the match about half an hour after it was due to start.
South Africa and Pakistan will also play five one-day internationals, starting in Bloemfontein on March 10.
Elsewhere, England’s top order blew a second chance to spend some quality time in the middle but the tourists still went on to cement their lead on the penultimate day of their four-day match against New Zealand XI in Queenstown yesterday.
Opener Nick Compton (one) and Kevin Pietersen (eight) once again failed with the bat, while Jonathan Trott (20) was berating himself on his way back to the pavilion after failing to convert the start into something substantial.
Captain Alastair Cook (24), who hit 60 in the first innings, was run out, leaving it to Matt Prior (68) and Graeme Swann (41 not out) down the order to power the visitors to 256 for nine. AGENCIES
