Match Abandoned | South Africa vs England, Highlights And Cricket Score 2nd ODI Match - Commentary

So that is it from the rain-marred game here in Durban. We now move to Johannesburg for the third and final ODI game of the series. It's going to be a day game on Sunday, 9th February. That match will begin at 1000 local (0800 GMT). Join us for the Pink ODI. Till then, cheers!

MATCH ABANDONED! We had a tasty encounter in store but the rain gods had other ideas. It wanted to play spoilsport and unfortunately succeeded in doing that. After a lot of delays and stop-start, the umpires have decided that we cannot have any further action and the match has to be called off. What this means is, England as world champions cannot win their first series and South Africa cannot lose their first series under the leadership of Quinton de Kock.

Update 1858 local (1648 GMT) - The bad news is there is no improvement in the weather. However, if you're an optimistic person then a slight bit of good news is that the cut-off time for a 20-over game is 1922 local. So we have around 24 minutes to get back on the field.

Update 1839 local (1639 GMT) - RAIN IS BACK! And it's a bit heavier than the last time. Very teasing. The players are forced off the field and this time the groundsmen are out with the bigger covers. This is really frustrating for everyone. Stay tuned and hang on to the thread of hope...

The only cover that was protecting the playing area is peeled off. The players are back on and we have not lost any overs this time.

Update 1834 local (1634 GMT) - The players are going off and the covers are coming on. Wait on, it seems that the rain has stopped. The umpires are waiting in the middle and now they are calling the players back on the field. Huge cheer from the crowd! Only the playing area is covered at the moment.

Chris Jordan to Temba Bavuma. OUT! Excellent use of the review from England. Bavuma has to walk back and looks like everyone will have to walk back with him as it has started to rain a bit heavily. Jordan strikes in his first over. Slightly shorter around off, Bavuma goes on his back foot and looks to pull. The ball does not usually bounce much in Durban (gone are those bouncy days) and this one too doesn't. Bavuma misses his attempted shot and the ball hits him on the thigh pad of his back foot. The English players put in a huge appeal but the umpire turns it down. Jordan and Bairstow are confident and they convince Morgan to go upstairs. Morgan signals the 'T'. Replay rolls in and Ultra Edge first shows there is no bat involved. Ball Tracker then comes and England need all three reds as the on-field call is Not Out. The tourists get all three reds in the Ball Tracker as it shows the ball is hitting the leg pole. The on-field decision is overturned and the star from the last game has to walk back to the pavilion.

Time to trouble the third umpire! England have gone for the referral after the lbw appeal against Bavuma was not entertained by the umpire. He is struck high on the back leg. There is no wood on the Ultra Edge and the Ball Tracker finds it to be crashing onto the leg stump.

Chris Jordan to Reeza Hendricks. Jordan starts with an off-pace delivery on middle and off. Reeza is early into his pull and the ball hits him high on the thigh pad. The ball rolls towards short third man and they steal a leg bye.

Chris Jordan is into the attack now.

Matt Parkinson to Reeza Hendricks. On middle and leg, Reeza flicks it towards square leg and keeps the strike once again.

Matt Parkinson to Temba Bavuma. Shorter on off, Bavuma waits for it and then late cuts it towards third man for a single.

Matt Parkinson to Temba Bavuma. FOUR! Excellent use of the feet. Tossed up on middle, Bavuma comes down the track and hits it straight over the bowler's head for a very good looking boundary.

Matt Parkinson to Reeza Hendricks. Darted around the pads, Reeza glances it to the on side and gets to the other end.

Matt Parkinson to Temba Bavuma. Floated on middle, Bavuma comes down the track and flicks it towards mid-wicket for a run.

Matt Parkinson to Reeza Hendricks. Floated leg spinner on middle and leg, Reeza lofts it with the spin over extra cover. Jordan is there in the deep. He gets it on a bounce and keeps it down to one.

Tom Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Good over. 7 off it and in such short games, they are very good. On the pads, Reeza flicks it to the leg side and keeps the strike.

Tom Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Very good ball from Tom. It is difficult to bowl with a wet ball and he has managed to bowl a yorker with it. It is on middle and leg, Reeza manages to dig it out.

Tom Curran to Temba Bavuma. Back of a length on off, Bavuma pulls it to deep mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

There is a slight drizzle in the air. The groundsmen are standing near the boundary line but it's very light in nature and hence the umpires are staying. Let's hope there won't be any more interruption.

Tom Curran to Reeza Hendricks. On the pads, Reeza flicks it towards mid-wicket and rotates the strike. South Africa scoring runs but struggling to get a boundary.

Tom Curran to Temba Bavuma. Full on middle and off, Bavuma comes down the track and goes over mid-wicket. He does not connect that well and the heavy outfield stops the ball before the fence. Three taken by the batsmen.

Tom Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Good length ball on off, Hendricks punches it to covers for a single.

Matt Parkinson to Reeza Hendricks. Good over from Parkinson. 6 off it. The last ball is on the pads, RH turns it to mid-wicket and keeps the strike.

Matt Parkinson to Reeza Hendricks. WIDE! Parkinson misses his line and sprays one down the leg side. Hendricks looks to flick but misses. Wided by the umpire.

Matt Parkinson to Temba Bavuma. Tossed up on middle and leg, Bavuma comes down and glances it to mid-wicket for a run.

Matt Parkinson to Reeza Hendricks. On the pads, Hendricks flicks it towards mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

Matt Parkinson to Reeza Hendricks. On off, Reeza defends it.

Matt Parkinson to Reeza Hendricks. Tossed up on the stumps, Hendricks blocks it off the front foot.

Matt Parkinson to Reeza Hendricks. Parkinson starts with a beauty. Floated delivery on leg, Reeza looks to play it on the leg side but the ball kisses the inside edge and beats Bairstow. The outfield is heavy and hence the ball is cleaned up by the fielder. Two taken.

Time for some leg spin as Matt Parkinson is into the attack.

Tom Curran to Temba Bavuma. Huge appeal but turned down by the umpire. Fuller on off and it zips back in. Bavuma looks to defend but the ball kisses the inside edge before going onto the pads. Tom goes up in a huge appeal but the umpire turns it down. Morgan does not review it either.

Tom Curran to Temba Bavuma. Outside off, Bavuma swings his bat at it but misses.

Tom Curran to Temba Bavuma. SIX! Bavuma has heaved it well over mid-wicket. Fuller on off, Temba gets under it and smashes it over mid-wicket. There is a man in the deep but he is just a spectator.

Tom Curran to Temba Bavuma. Good length delivery on off, Temba defends it towards mid off.

Tom Curran to Temba Bavuma. Good length ball just outside off, Temba looks to defend but the ball keeps a bit low and beats him outside off. It goes to Bairstow behind the stumps on a bounce.

Tom Curran to Temba Bavuma. Tom starts with a length ball on off, Bavuma defends it off his back foot.

Tom Curran is on now.

Chris Woakes to Temba Bavuma. BEATEN! Excellent delivery from Woakes. Good length delivery outside off, Bavuma looks to defend but the ball whizzes past the outside edge. Bairstow fails to collect it cleanly and the batters take a bye.

Chris Woakes to Temba Bavuma. Full delivery on middle, Bavuma flicks it to mid-wicket and picks up a couple. The fielder comes across and cleans it up.

Chris Woakes to Reeza Hendricks. Good length ball on off, Hendricks pushes it to cover for a single.

We are back for the resumption. Temba Bavuma and Reeza Hendricks walk out to resume their innings. Chris Woakes to finish off his over. Powerplay 2 also signalled by the umpire. It will be from overs 6 to 21 and 4 fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle till the 21st over.

UPDATE 1800 local (1600 GMT) - YAAY!!!! All our prayers have seemed to have done their job as the rain has stopped and we are going to have a resumption of play at 1815 local. It will be a 26-over game.

UPDATE 1740 local (1540 GMT) - Good news! Good news!! Good news!!! The covers are off and an inspection is scheduled at 1800 local.

UPDATE 1645 local (1445 GMT) - Ahh... this is annoying as just when we were getting a bit optimistic, the rain gods have poured water on it and it has started raining again. Covers back on!

UPDATE 1630 local (1430 GMT) - Some positive news as the covers are coming off and the umpires are inspecting the field. The weather forecast is not too promising but let's hope that we can resume the game.

UPDATE 1540 Local (1340 GMT) - If you are a cricket fan then we have a bad news for you. The rain has gotten heavier and things are looking bad. Let's hope that we have cursed it and we can resume the action.

Just after that glorious shot the rain has decided to play spoilsport and the groundsmen are bringing on the covers. Such a contrasting sight for a fan. Delight followed by frustration. The players are off and lets hope that it is not a lengthy rain delay and we resume the action as quickly as possible.

Chris Woakes to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! Hendricks is looking really good out there. He's played some sumptuous shots in his innings so far. Full on off, Hendricks drives it past the diving mid off fielder, even though it is drizzling and the outfield is heavy. Hendricks has timed the ball so well that even these factors cannot stop the ball.

Chris Woakes to Reeza Hendricks. Length ball on middle, Hendricks flicks it to square leg.

Chris Woakes to Temba Bavuma. Good length ball on off, Bavuma looks to defend but it takes the outside edge and the ball goes towards third man. A single taken.

Joe Root to Temba Bavuma. Good length ball on middle, Bavuma works it to square leg to get off the mark.

The star from the last game, Temba Bavuma walks out at number 3, replaces his skipper out in the middle. A bit of a delayed entry from him. Also, he bring on some bad news with him as it has started to drizzle.

Joe Root to Quinton de Kock. OUT! TIMBER! What a bowling change from Eoin Morgan! Root has provided the breakthrough for his side in his very first over. The centurion, the match-winner from the last game does not make much of an impact in this game. Root bowls a flatter one on middle, de Kock makes room and then looks to cut expecting the ball to turn but it keeps straight and skids off the surface. The South African misses it completely and the ball goes onto disturb the stumps. Big wicket for the tourists as they know how dangerous the Protea skipper can be. The ploy to bring in the part-time spinner has reaped its reward. Major and early blow to South Africa.

Joe Root to Quinton de Kock. Loopy one on middle, de Kock defends it out.

Joe Root to Reeza Hendricks. On middle, Hendricks pushes it to mid on for a single.

Joe Root to Quinton de Kock. Flatter one on middle, de Kock works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Joe Root to Reeza Hendricks. Root starts with a floated ball on middle, Hendricks works it to mid-wicket for a single.

Surprisingly, Joe Root is into the attack ahead of their main spinner, Matt Parkinson.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. Woakes dishes another full one on middle, de Kock defends it out to the bowler.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. Short of a length ball on off, de Kock punches it through the cover region for a couple.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. Full one on middle, de Kock pushes it to mid on.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. EDGY! There is no second slip and de Kock is safe. Good length ball on off, de Kock looks to flick but gets an outside edge which goes past the first slip fielder. The fielder comes across and throws it to Bairstow but de Kock has made it with his dive.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. Full on middle, de Kock drives it straight back to the bowler.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. Good length ball on off, de Kock defends it solidly onto the pitch.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Good length ball on off, Hendricks pushes it through the cover region and picks up a couple. 11 from the over.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! Hammered! Second boundary of the over and it has come in some way. Short of a length ball on middle, Hendricks camps back and pulls it with disdain towards the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Fullish outside off, Reeza drives but Jordan at cover dives to make the stop.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. FOUR! Wonderful shot! What a way to get your first boundary of the innings! It is a full delivery outside off, Hendricks lunges forward and creams the drive through the cover region for a boundary.

Sam Curran to Quinton de Kock. Short of a length ball outside off, de Kock cuts it to deep point for a single.

Sam Curran to Quinton de Kock. Good length ball on the pads, de Kock flicks it to short fine leg.

Chris Woakes to Reeza Hendricks. Length ball on off, Reeza defends it out onto the pitch. Good, tidy stuff from Woakes.

Chris Woakes to Reeza Hendricks. On a length on middle, keeping a little low. Hendricks does well to defend it back towards Woakes.

Chris Woakes to Reeza Hendricks. On a length on off, Hendricks stands tall and defends it back to the bowler.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. Good length ball on off, de Kock pushes it towards mid off and takes a quick single.

Chris Woakes to Reeza Hendricks. Full delivery down the leg side, Hendricks flicks it to the fine leg region and crosses over for a single.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. Length ball on the pads, de Kock works it to deep square leg for a single.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Full delivery on middle, Hendricks flicks it to deep square leg and picks up a couple before the fielder comes across to clean it up. 5 runs from Sam Curran's first.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Fullish delivery outside off, Reeza shoulders arms to this one.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Good length ball outside off, Hendricks leaves the ball alone.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Full delivery on middle, Hendricks defends it back to the bowler.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Good length ball on off, Hendricks prods forward and then defends it to the cover region.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. Nicely played! Full delivery outside off, Hendricks lunges forward and drives it through the cover region for a couple.

Sam Curran to Reeza Hendricks. WIDE! Sam strays down the line first up. He dishes a full delivery down the leg side, Hendricks looks to flick but misses. Wide signaled.

Sam Curran will bowl from the other end with the second new ball.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. A solid defense from de Kock to end the over. Good length ball on off, de Kock gets behind the line of that ball and defends it with a straight bat. Solid start for South Africa. 6 off the first.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. A glimpse of how the rain has affected the outfield here. Length ball on off, de Kock gets on his front foot and drives it on the up through covers. The outfield is heavy due to the rain we had earlier and that sees the fielder clean it up.

Chris Woakes to Reeza Hendricks. Edged but safe! Another good delivery from Woakes. Good length ball pitching on off, it shapes away from the right-hander. Hendricks looks to defend but gets a thick outside edge. Luckily for Reeza it goes wide of first slip and towards third man for a single.

Chris Woakes to Reeza Hendricks. Reeza is off the mark as well with the help of some sloppy work from Denly. Full ball on off, Reeza squeezes it to the right of cover. Denly there misfields and the ball goes past him allowing Hendricks to get a couple.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. South Africa are off the mark. On the pads, de Kock turns it to fine leg and gets a single to get off the mark.

Chris Woakes to Quinton de Kock. Woakes starts right on the money. Bowls it on a length on off, it looks to be going with the angle but it straightens a touch and beats the defensive blade of Quinton de Kock.

We are all set for the action to begin. The South African skipper, Quinton de Kock walks out with Reeza Hendricks to open the innings. Chris Woakes to start the proceedings with the first new ball for the tourists. A slight delay though as the groundsman is out and hammering the turf as the wiring is off its root. They have managed to shove it inside the turf with the hammer and now Woakes can charge in. Revised playing conditions so Powerplay 1 now is for the first 9 overs and not 10.

South Africa (Playing XI) - Quinton de Kock (C/WK), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, JJ Smuts, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Beuran Hendricks, Bjorn Fortuin, (In for Lungi Ngidi) (ODI DEBUT), Lutho Sipamla, Tabraiz Shamsi.

England (Playing XI) (Unchanged) - Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow (WK), Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (C), Joe Denly, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Matt Parkinson.

South African skipper, Quinton de Kock says they would have preferred to bowl first as well but is not too concerned. Thinks the wicket will remain slow throughout the game. Informs Fortuin makes his debut and Ngidi rests. Tells the important think was that Ngidi was injured and he just has been rested and this gives the chance to Fortuin who has bowled well in the domestic season.

England skipper, Eoin Morgan says that it was raining a bit so hence the decision to bowl. On the surface, Morgan says it looks good and credits the groundsmen for their efforts. Morgan adds that the decision to bowl has nothing to do with the surface as he feels it will play the same but the decision comes due to the overhead conditions. Informs they are unchanged and hopes that the side can bounce back from the last game. Tells they want to be smart, positive and aggressive cricketers in both the departments like they have done in the last 4 years.

Toss - After a long delay, we are finally ready for the toss. South African skipper, Quinton de Kock has the coin. Up it goes. The England skipper, Eoin Morgan calls it correctly. ENGLAND OPT TO BOWL!!!

Hello and welcome to the second ODI between South Africa and England. The world champions' new era as champions got off to a poor start as they were humiliated in the first ODI. Eoin Morgan will hope his relatively inexperienced side can bounce back from that and keep this series alive. It will be interesting to see whether they make any changes or stick with the same eleven. South Africa, on the other hand, had a fairy tale start to their new reign under the leadership of Quinton de Kock. The skipper led from the front in the previous game and will look to do the same in the process of wrapping up the series. Can the Proteas make up for the humiliating Test series loss and seal the series with a game in hand or will the wounded English lions pounce back? Stay tuned to find out as we are moments away from the toss.