The sixth one day international at Kingsmead, Durban gave England only an opportunity to recover their winning ways, which disappeared after the crucial tied match at Bloemfontein. But persistent rain made sure that England's progress would end here.

If England were looking for an effective opening bowler to complement Darren Gough, they delayed the candidature for the penultimate contest, battling between a weary Matthew Hoggard and struggling Steve Harmison. Alex Wharf, hungry for an opportunity, wasted little time in vindicating his selection as he struck with successive deliveries to dismiss Graeme Smith caught in the slips and then, sent back the prolific Jacques Kallis, who attempted a leg-side flick only to be caught in similar fashion. South Africa's decision to bat first had been dealt a deadly blow as the scorecard read 1-2 as early as the third over. It was left to Herschelle Gibbs and opener Adam Bacher, a surprise selection in favour of the 'rested' AB de Villiers, to consolidate and the process turned into a sombre affair as Bacher fell cheaply.

Ashwell Prince joined Gibbs at fifty-three for three. Prince was dismissed for a sharp catch by Paul Collingwood off the bowling of Giles for twenty-seven. From 114 for four, Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher attempted to compensate the early loss with a nifty half-century stand before Boucher gave Wharf his third wicket, caught at third man for twenty-four in the fortieth over. The stage seemed set for another round of blazing fireworks from the man of the moment, Justin Kemp, but it was not to be. Kemp, after a brilliant run in the series, was dismissed for a duck by Gough caught by Kabir Ali at third-man off an uncontrolled shot. South Africa's train seemed to be derailing with less than ten overs to go.

Herschelle Gibbs though was commendably outstanding as he single-handedly held the innings together to bring up a much deserved fifteenth one-day international century with a 'masterstroke' of a cover drive off Ali. Just as Shaun Pollock was adjudged lbw to Paul Collingwood, the much anticipated rain made its presence felt in the forty-third over with South Africa far from a decent score at 180 for the loss of seven wickets. A delayed rain interruption meant South Africa had just four more overs in which they managed to score thirty-one more runs but ended up being all out for 211 just short of the revised forty-eight overs.

England were presented a revised target of 213 in keeping with the Duckworth-Lewis method. They got off to a disastrous start as Marcus Trescothick was caught in two minds whether to play or leave at a Shaun Pollock delivery, only to edge the ball to second slip. Geraint Jones, after a few terse moments, succumbed to a wild swing that resulted being caught at mid-on off Makhaya Ntini. England were reeling at seven for the loss of two wickets in just 3.4 overs before rain made its reappearance and this time persisted long enough for the game to be abandoned and with it, destroying any England hopes of squaring the series in the final match at Centurion on Sunday.