4.10pm The players are shaking hands and the game has been abandoned. We waited a long time, saw lightning, rain and hail, but unfortunately, no cricket. The second washout of this season, and we may have a third in the second game today, but we'll keep fingers crossed for that one. That's all from us here. On behalf of Chandan and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo, this is Abhimanyu signing off.
4.05pm Oh my, the players and staff are going off again, and the covers are coming on again because lightning is back, close to the stadium. This likely means that we will have a no-result.
Here are the XIs:
JSK: Faf du Plessis (capt), Matthew De Villiers, Wiaan Mulder, Shubham Ranjane, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Donovan Ferreira (wk), Prenelan Subrayen, Dian Forrester, Duan Jansen, Akeal Hosein, Richard Gleeson, Reece Topley
SEC: Quinton de Kock (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Matthew Breetzke, Jordan Hermann, Tristan Stubbs (capt), Marco Jansen, Patrick Kruger, James Coles, Adam Milne, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla
3.55pm It's been a long, long wait and now we are finally here at toss time in Joburg. JSK will have a bowl. Du Plessis says the decision is mainly due to the fact that chasing is easier in a five-over shootout. Two changes because it's a shortened game, he says. But then says Topley coming in is the only change. Stubbs says Sipamla and Patrick Kruger and James Coles are in for SEC.
Aneesh: "Hope we get an exciting 5-over game. Remember in the MLC earlier, Sherman Ranjane and Donovan Ferierra were hitting the ball really well so hope something similar happens today for JSK?"
Revised conditions: 1.3 overs powerplay. Two bowlers can bowl two overs each and one can bowl one.
3.45pm The umpires have had a word with Faf du Plessis and Tristan Stubbs and du Plessis then has had a chat with Fleming. Let's see what the official word is, if any. The covers are off again. Match to begin at 4.15pm, toss at 3.55pm. Five overs a side.
3.23pm I'm hearing there is an inspection on right now.
I hear more covers are coming on and there's lightning around again. Chances of play at this point, in my opinion, look low. And it's raining again. Sigh.
2.47pm The covers have been brought back on, so that's more bad news. We should have had the inspection, but I suspect that'll have to wait.
Official update: The ground staff are working to clear the field, there will be another inspection of the ground at 14:45. So that's in another 20 odd minutes.
While we wait, you can read this lovely piece by Firdose Moonda on Sikandar Raza.
2.12pm The covers are off!
umar: "outfield covers being removed, rolling dryer deployed now"
2.05 We have started to lose overs and there is still no update. The wait continues in Joburg...
Vernon: "I'm at the game wondering why the super sopper is not being used." -- I think the lightning being around means the ground has to be vacated.
1.35pm We are about 20 minutes away from the point when we start to lose overs.
The groundsman says there is a "50-50" chance that they'll get the ground ready for play. There are a couple of big puddles out there.
1.15pm The covers are still on. There's still some lightning around. The wait continues.
1.03pm The rain, and hail have all stopped. Spectators are getting back to their seats. Positive signs for now.
12.58pm Oh my, Ray is right. It's not raining right now. It is hailing!
"I live down the street. This won't last for more than 15min. Game on soon!" -- Let's hope you are right, Ray.
12.52pm The wait is going to last for a while. It is raining now in Joburg.
12.40pm An hour before we start losing overs, I'm told.
12.30pm And it's toss time, with some dark clouds around the stadium. There is lightning near the field, which has delayed the toss. The players and staff have to vacate the ground right now. Covers are coming on as a precaution. Players from both teams having a chat with each other as we wait.
Shadow-Shell: "We had back to back thrillers, what's in store for today? Can they make it a hattrick of thrillers, fit for a top of the table clash?" -- We can certainly hope so! They are two very good sides, and it's set up for a hard-fought affair.
12.10pm Hello and welcome to a top-of-the-table clash in the SA20. Joburg Super Kings put up two convincing victories, followed by a Super Over triumph. Sunrisers Eastern Cape meanwhile won their first two games but faltered against Paarl Royals. This is the first clash between these two sides this season and should be a cracker. Hi, I'm Abhimanyu and I'll be your eyes and ears on ESPNcricinfo's live commentary for today's clash in Johannesburg.
