Rain foils Proteas, Pakistan

Durban - Heavy rain forced the opening Twenty20 international between South Africa and Pakistan to be abandoned in Durban on Friday.

There was some overnight rain in the city, but the cloud cover appeared to have cleared around lunchtime when the sun shone briefly.

However, heavy downpours arrived mid-afternoon and it was still falling at 17:30 when the toss was due.

But with rain still falling and puddles quickly forming in the outfield, the umpires Shaun George and Adrian Holdstock, along with the ground staff decided to call off proceedings just under an hour later.

The match between the fifth-ranked Proteas and world number six Pakistan was the first of two scheduled - the second will be played in Pretoria on Sunday - and will be followed by a five-match one-day series.