Whitewash washed out

England's hopes of inflicting a whitewash on South Africa disappeared in the Cardiff rain as Wednesday's final NatWest Series match was abandoned, with only three overs possible.

Kevin Pietersen's team would have taken England to an all-time high second in the one-day international rankings if it had been able to complete a 5-0 clean sweep.

Instead, it must settle for 4-0 and third in the International Cricket Council ODI table - behind Australia and South Africa.

On a day of blustery showers and with rain always threatening, the match at the SWALEC Stadium was called off at 6.50pm.

In the play possible, South Africa - put in to bat first - lost Herschelle Gibbs to a blinding catch behind by Matt Prior off Stuart Broad, on the way to six for one.

That came after a start delayed by wet surrounds, and preceded the first of the many downpours which were eventually to bring the abandonment.