Steyn, his slicked back hair swaying in the breeze, looks suspiciously at the overcast skies and aggressively at Afridi. Misbah completes his 42nd ODI fifty in his 160th match. Yet to reach three figures. Is this his day? He's second in the tournament runscorer list anyway.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Reuters

"You don't want to shake hands with Shahid Afridi. He's got such a strong grip, your hand almost drops off. I met him once while I was coaching the kids in Pakistan. He asked if he could bat but I told him only if he didn't hit the kids out of the park. They were only kids. Third ball he whacks out of the ground."

What would be the most disturbing thing for a South Africa fan? An injury to AB de Villiers. He appears to have hurt his wrist in the field so we will have to monitor this. He looks ok and is drying the ball vigorously enough with his towel. Misbah cuts Abbott away for his fourth boundary and grabs a single off the final ball to move within one of fifty.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"The problem for the bowlers is the wet ball, I think that's harder than having to start again as a batsman."

No reduction in the number of overs and Tahir will get through his allocation quickly. Still drizzling a little and AB is equipped with a raggedly looking towel to dry the ball. It gets an airing however as Afridi takes a step away to leg and launches a fine strike over long-off for six. An orange t-shirted figure in the crowd attempts to take the catch one-handed, which would earn him a share of the special cash prize,, external but he spills it. Blaming the damp conditions no doubt. I would.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Auckland

The covers are off and the stumps are in, so it looks like we are about to get some play. However, the sky is still grey and the wind is still high. In short, not a very nice day.

Ilyas Najib: South Africa, World Cup, Duckworth Lewis and rain have a history which is interesting to say the least, 92 and 03 come to mind.

After lengthy reviews it is decided that Joyce's edge off burly paceman Tinashe Panyangara falls just short of another well built figure, Hamilton Masakadza at first slip.

Image source, Getty Images

"That was a bit of a pie to get out to," says former England spinner Graeme Swann on Test Match Special of Stirling's dismissal. Ed Joyce could be out first ball here, there is going to be a review.

Click on the 'Live Coverage' tab for ball-by-ball TMS commentary.

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We're hearing that the covers are coming off and they will re-start in 15 minutes at Eden Park, yet rain is still falling. That's a curious decision isn't it?

We've been lucky with the weather so far in this tournament, just the one match washed out without a ball bowled in Brisbane, and one reduced in Canberra. We'll keep you up to date with Ireland against Zimbabwe, which is on 5 live sports extra now and big Paul Stirling has gone, flicking at a wide one and caught at backward point for 10.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Pakistan don't have enough runs at the moment. They say they want 250 but that is too little - they must rate their bowling higher than we do anyway. I don't think that will test the South Africans."

Image source, Getty Images

While we watch the rain fall in Auckland, Ireland have begun their innings against Zimbabwe in Hobart.

Ireland have recalled Alex Cusack in place of Max Sorensen, while injured Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura is replaced by Regis Chakabva. Brendan Taylor will lead them in Chigumbura's absence.

Click on the 'Live Coverage' tab for ball-by-ball TMS commentary, which starts at 03:25 GMT.

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Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"This is a sand-based stadium which accepts a lot of water and it drains very quickly via a network of channels. Within a few moments of it stopping, we'll be out as quickly as possible."

Image source, Getty Images

The PA man is on the ball. He's treating us to "Why Does It Always Rain On Me" by Glaswegian indie combo Travis. They've gone quiet haven't they. Not the fancy hover cover that Lord's have, just some hefty plastic sheets, and they are being put to the test by some heavier rain and a stiffish breeze.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Auckland

"I was just typing 'it looks like it's about to rain', when it actually began to rain. Dark sky, floodlights on, flags fluttering with gusto to suggest high winds. The South Africa players linger on the outfield, suggesting it's not too heavy. They want to get this game won."

Afridi is in town. A few spots of rain. What's going to happen now? I can tell you exactly, a small John Deere tractor that my dad would absolutely love is coming on with some covers and the players are wandering off, not completely off the field, just congregating on the boundary at present.

Neil Manthorp
BBC Test Match Special

"The only thing AB can't control is hair loss, other than that he can do anything he wants."

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"AB de Villiers made that catch look hard. It just pulls Pakistan back and reins them in. Umar Akmal can play expansive shots so it halts their progress further."

Image source, Reuters

The large figure of Morkel is back in the attack and Amla is guilty of a mis-field to allow a routine single. Saw West Indies earlier commit some atrocious fielding errors. No error from the outstanding De Villiers, he hasn't done anything wrong since about 2005. He almost lost sight of this pull from Umar but clings on at wide mid-on.