Chennai, November 22:

Heavy rain and a water-logged ground forced the third one-dayer between India and South Africa to be abandoned without a ball being bowled here on Tuesday. The incessant rain over the past two days soaked the Chidambaram stadium and umpires Daryl Harper and Krishna Hariharan called off play 45 minutes after the scheduled start time of 0900 GMT as the weather showed no signs of clearing. With no provision for a reserve day, the five-match series remains locked at 1-1 after South Africa won the first match in Hyderabad by five wickets and India drew level with a six-wicket win in Bangalore. The remaining two day-night matches will be played in Kolkata on Friday and in Mumbai next Monday.