The South Africans made 249 for seven in their 39 overs, but a stoppage during their innings brought the Duckworth/Lewis system into play and the Australian target was adjusted upwards by one run.

A delayed start and a further interruption for rain cut 11 overs off the South African innings, but with Smith again in exceptional form and Rhodes typically busy, the home team set Australia a challenging target.

Smith shared a 71-run partnership for the second wicket with Nicky Boje that provided the substance of the innings and some typically breezy hitting from Rhodes were the highlights of an innings on a damp and chilly Cape Town evening.

Smith was the second man out at 134 when he was comprehensively beaten and bowled by Andy Bichel after his second ODI 50 in as many matches. He had played quite superbly and has clearly adjusted to the higher level, but, as was the case in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, he will be disappointed not to have gone on to three figures after doing all the ground work.

Boje was also in wonderful form, driving powerfully through the off side, until he tried to run Shane Watson down to third man and instead provided a catch behind the wicket to Adam Gilchrist. It was Watson’s first ODI wicket and he was understandably delighted by the moment. Boje was out one short of his 50 at 172 for three.

Shane Warne then accounted for Jacques Kallis (18), caught at deep midwicket, and Neil McKenzie (0), lbw to the first ball he faced, in the space of three deliveries and when Glenn McGrath returned to the attack to have Mark Boucher caught at long off for 18, South Africa were 225 for six.

Shaun Pollock fell in similar fashion to Boucher in the last over of the innings for 8 and Boeta Dippenaar hit the only two ball he faced both for four before the innings ended.

With the start of the match delayed and the game further interrupted by a stoppage for rain 4.4 overs into the innings, this final meeting between the two countries in their seven-match series has become something of a soggy lottery.

The good news for the 13 000 or so fans who braved the elements was that the cloud cover started to break up around 6pm and with luck both teams might be able to bat out their 39 overs.

The match had initially been reduced to a 43-overs-a-side affair before a further 27-minute stoppage cut another eight overs out of the match, but in between the interruptions the home side made good progress.

Graeme Smith, again impressive in his first season as an international player, and Herschelle Gibbs put on 63 for the first wicket before Gibbs fell to a sharp piece of fielding from Andy Bichel who replaced Glenn McGrath at the Wynberg end.

Smith tried to pull Bichel’s fifth delivery but missed with the ball dropping down off his pads in front of him. With Gibbs looking for a quick leg bye, Bichel darted in, picked up the ball and threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end with Gibbs still well short of regaining his ground.

He was out for 27 off 28 balls, but South Africa had been given a sound start.

Smith had been dropped at slip by Ricky Ponting off Brett Lee when he had 29, but he took advantage of this piece of luck to post his second one-day 50, reaching mark off 58 balls and with Nicky Boje, sent in at three, also in aggressive mood, the South African 100 came up in 17th over of the innings.

Smith took successive boundaries off Bichel in the 19th over to bring up the 40 partnership for the second wicket off 48 balls as South Africa moved into a good position to set Australia a testing target.

When drinks were taken after 20 overs, Smith had 70 with Boje on 24.

With South Africa having been asked to bat by Ricky Ponting, the home side were 24 without loss when the umpires took the players off the field in what was likely to be the first of several interruptions during the evening.

Herschelle Gibbs was on 12 at the stoppage with Graeme Smith on 9.

Persistent drizzle held up the start of play for nearly two hours and the match has been reduced to a 43-overs a side affair.

Australia, who lead 5-0 in the series, made three changes to the side that won the sixth match in the series in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. Jimmy Maher has been brought in for Matthew Hayden, Brett Lee for Darren Lehmann and Andy Bichel for Jason Gillespie.

South Africa, meanwhile, have replaced Jon Kent and Makhaya Ntini with Boeta Dippenaar and Nantie Hayward.

Teams

South Africa: Shaun Pollock (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Jonty Rhodes, Boeta Dippenaar, Mark Boucher, Nicky Boje, Nantie Hayward, Roger Telemachus.

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Jimmy Maher, Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Michael Bevan, Ian Harvey, Shane Watson, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Andy Bichel, Glenn McGrath.

The scheduled start of play came and went with the covers still on the pitch and although the weather forecast for Cape Town suggests the clouds may lift later in the afternoon or in the evening, there is no immediate prospect of play.

Australia lead the seven-match series 5-0 with one match tied.

Although Australia have already wrapped up the series 5-0, with one match tied, Newlands was sold out several weeks ago, but if the rain persists it is almost certain to at least delay the start if not wash the match out altogether.