9.07pm: Match abandoned, the rain is coming down as hard as ever and any hopes of getting in 60 deliveries have been finally submerged. A washout means New Zealand win the T20 series 1-0 and head off for a well-earned break from playing England. Thanks for sticking around - hopefully we'll get more luck with the opening match of the West Indies tri-series tomorrow. Cheerio for now.

9pm: The covers had been removed, the stumps inserted, the players readied... and then the rain got harder again. They had been preparing to recommence in drizzle but the covers have been put back on and that 9.03pm re-start will now be missed. Looks very doubtful for even a five-over game now. Player safety has to be a question, with the outfield slicked by persistent rainfall.

8.45pm: They are going to try and re-start the game at 9.03pm, which will leave enough time for a six-overs-a-side game. It is, however, still raining. Stay with us...

8.40pm: Off come the hokey-cokey covers again, we might still squeeze in a Seven7 ... Got to get going in the next half an hour.

Here's Jordan, who may have jumped the gun (but at least is still sitting in the warm): "As a Kiwi in London, I'll take it - series victory for New Zealand. They were clearly dominating the second game as well (all two balls of it). Just glad I decided against going!"

8.05pm: An inspection was due now but the rain has returned and the umpires will remain indoors. The square is wrapped up, though some of the groundstaff are running a rope round the outfield and making token efforts to mop up.

7.55pm: The umpires are "monitoring the state of the outfield", reports Alex. We're not out of the woods yet...

"KP has indeed angered the God, the God of Cricket by saying that Cook can break his record," says Sibi, who obviously wants to give me an excuse to link to Pietersen's sage words.

7.48pm: The covers are coming off, a cheer goes up from the crowd. We'll have lost overs but might still get in 15 a side. No re-start time yet, the umpires still taking a view. Think the pitch remains covered too.

7.40pm: The umpires are apparently having a look. Covers still on most of the square...

7pm: The official cut-off is 9.11pm, Alex Winter, our man at the ground, says "they're battening down the hatches". Don't get your hopes up - seems like KP may have angered the gods.

6.45pm: "What is the cut off time for this match? As per weather forecast it is going to rain till 11pm." If it rains until then, Pawan, I think we can safely say the game will be abandoned. I think it all has to be done by 10pm, with a minimum of five overs a side required ... They probably need to be back on by 9pm?

6.33pm: After just two deliveries, we have a rain delay. This is not encouraging - brollies up all around the ground and the square being covered, as well as the pitch. Michael Lumb is sitting on the balcony watching the rain; his timing may have been off with that shot but turns out it was a good moment to get his coat.

So Luke Wright trots out at No. 3 - no KP yet. But we're not going to see anyone bat right this minute, as the rain sets in and the umpires and players set off

The teams have bowled out on to the 'sward ... Sounds like it's spitting at The Oval. Michael Lumb blinks a couple of times as Mitch McClenaghanagainagain prepares to run in

6.20pm: It's a little overcast in Kennington, there's a possibility of rain. Think they're using the same pitch as the other night, so a short boundary to one side. Might be just a touch more in it for the spinners, with Briggs included after a solid 2 for 20 for Hampshire in the FLt20 opener yesterday.

"Sharing a birthday with two South African greats, Pietersen and Steyn, really ought to stand me in good stead as a player, right?" I don't know about that, Matthew ... You just want us to sing you Happy Birthday, don't you?

Here's Jim "Boom, Boom" Davis with the first Ashes joke of the evening: "What is the difference between the Irish cricket team and the Australian cricket team? Ireland have 2 players good enough to play for England"

6.10pm: Interestingly, Tredwell said at the toss Pietersen will bat at No. 4, as the top three had earned the right to keep their positions. We'll see if that holds when PK strolls out at some point over the next hour and a half. The last time he batted that low in T20 was back in 2009...

"Sky Sports have just used your Eminem reference to discuss KP," says Karl. "Nick Knight's obviously reading your feed tonight." I'm sure Nick's a big fan and that Sky hastily cobbled that VT together after checking ball-by-ball 20 mins ago.

Bob Gardiner wants to get something straight: "I'm not here because of Pietersen. I am here because I am in a hotel abroad which is not showing the cricket."

And Mark can feel himself coming over all funny: "If it's as good as the first match... A few games like that and I could even get into T20. NZ are very dangerous in this format: always tough to beat."

6pm: New Zealand have won the toss and will bowl, Brendon McCullum announces an unchanged team. He's smiling - tomorrow is the start of a long holiday... Tredwell says he's pretty chuffed (though it's hard to tell from his demeanour). England have a couple of changes ... Eoin Morgan, who has a hand injury, drops out for Gary Ballance Kevin Peter Pietersen and Danny Briggs comes in for Chris Woakes.

England 1 Michael Lumb, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Luke Wright, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ravi Bopara, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Ben Stokes, 8 James Tredwell (capt), 9 Danny Briggs, 10 Jade Dernbach, 11 Boyd Rankin

New Zealand 1 Hamish Rutherford, 2 James Franklin, 3 Brendon McCullum (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Colin Munro, 7 Corey Anderson, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Ian Butler, 10 Mitchell McClenaghan, 11 Ronnie Hira

5.50pm: Okay, we know why you're here. KP's back, back again - why not tell a friend? Oh right, they already know. But don't forget The Other Guys, okay. They may not do things with as much style, as much panache, as much tattooed braggadocio ... but they get the job done. James Tredwell will captain England for the first time tonight and he is the team's symbolic everyman. He can be rightly proud (though let's hope he doesn't have to take himself off after getting another Rutherfording). Still, it is Pietersen's birthday, so we'll allow him a few bouquets. I guess New Zealand will be more than ready to step up and blow out his candles? They won a stormer at The Oval two nights ago and will aim to sign off their tour - and the last of 16 bilateral matches between these two countries since February - in style. Get your mince pies around our match preview and we'll bring you news of the toss in 10. Hup, hup.