Heavy rain at Centurion Park caused the second day of the fifth Test between South Africa and England to be abandoned.

Umpires had hoped to start the Test at around 0930 GMT (1130 local time).

But, after the covers were removed, the heavens once again opened to ruin any chance of a ball being bowled.

It was the first full day lost to the weather in the series.

The Centurion Park ground staff are now hoping the rain will cease, to give them time to prepare the playing area for Sunday's third day.

South Africa finished a rain-interrupted first day at 155-6.

The England bowling attack, which proved erratic, should have capitalised further on the score.

But despite taking two more wickets, a run-rate of 3.4 runs an over saw Hansie Cronje's men move past the 150-mark with danger man Lance Klusener posing a considerable threat to England's chances of narrowing the series.

Darren Gough was forced to leave the field on Friday evening with a twinge in his groin, but the Yorkshire bowler is thought to have recovered.

Fifth Test Match: South Africa v England
14/01/00 at Centurion Park

Play In Progress
Scorecard correct at 16:25 BST

South Africa 155 for 6 (45overs)

South Africa innings

Batsman			Runs	Balls	4s	6s
G Kirsten	c Adams	b Gough	0	7	-	-
HH Gibbs	c Adams	b Caddick	3	21	-	-
JH Kallis		b Caddick	25	61	2	1
DJ Cullinan	c &	b Mullally	46	91	5	-
WJ Cronje	c Maddy	b Gough	0	6	-	-
PC Strydom	c Stewart	b Silverwood	30	41	5	-
L Klusener		not out	22	33	2	1
SM Pollock		not out	9	17	1	-
Extras	2b 8lb 3w 7nb		20
TOTAL:	6 wkts, 45 overs		155

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (1 Kirsten, 3 mins), 2-15 (14 Gibbs, 31 mins), 3-50 (35 Kallis, 90 mins), 4-55 (5 Cronje, 7 mins), 5-102 (47 Strydom, 59 mins), 6-136 (34 Cullinan, 37 mins)
Still to bat: M V Boucher, M Hayward, P R Adams

Bowler	O	M	R	W
D Gough	13	2	46	2
A R Caddick	12	5	29	2
A D Mullally	13	5	25	1
C E W Silverwood	7	1	45	1

England won the toss and decided to field

Umpires: R E Koertzen, D B Hair

South Africa
G Kirsten , H H Gibbs , J H Kallis , D J Cullinan , W J Cronje (capt) , P C Strydom , L Klusener , S M Pollock , M V Boucher (wkt) , M Hayward , P R Adams ,

England
M A Butcher , M A Atherton , N Hussain (capt) , M P Vaughan , A J Stewart (wkt) , C J Adams , D L Maddy , A R Caddick , D Gough , C E W Silverwood , A D Mullally.