Durban: Play was called off without a ball bowled because of a wet outfield on the fourth day of the first Test between South Africa and New Zealand at Kingsmead on Monday.

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It was the second successive day on which no play was possible, almost certainly condemning the match to end in a draw.

The series will then hinge on the second and final Test starting at Centurion on Saturday.

No play had taken place since rain fell during the lunch break on the second day, when New Zealand were on 15 for two in reply to South Africa`s first innings total of 263.

After an inspection before the scheduled resumption on Monday, the umpires said underfoot conditions remained too soft on an outfield which was re-seeded in June and suffered damage during a freak storm in July and rain on Saturday and Sunday.

After two further inspections, play was abandoned.

The difficulties with the weather in Durban have come at the same time that the fourth Test between the West Indies and India in Trinidad has seen three successive days called off due to a wet outfield.

str/jc