South Africa were handed a World Cup lifeline, when their clash with the West Indies was washed out, but their hopes are quickly fading.
The abandoned match gifted the Proteas their first point of the tournament, following an unprecedented three straight losses.
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Defeat to the West Indies would have left South Africa effectively unable to qualify for the semi-finals, but their point gained by default thanks to unrelenting rain now hands coach Ottis Gibson's men a slender chance of progression.
South Africa must win their final five matches to qualify from the round-robin stage, with clashes again Afghanistan, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia still to come.
Another washout would scupper those slim last-four chances, with the Proteas still staring down the barrel of their worst World Cup performance in history.
South Africa had slipped to 29/2 in the eighth over, when rain stopped play in Southampton and the match never resumed.
Left-arm quick Sheldon Cottrell had bagged two wickets for 18 runs, removing Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram in another fearsome opening bowling spell.
The West Indies will doubtless have proved far more frustrated to be halted by the weather, especially in light of their aggressive start, after winning the toss.
South Africa launched their World Cup campaign with a 104-run defeat by hosts and favourites England, then slipped to a 21-run loss to Bangladesh.
India then beat South Africa by six wickets and captain Faf Du Plessis' side have also been ravaged by injury, with Dale Steyn out of the whole tournament and Lungi Ngidi nursing a hamstring strain.
PA
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