Phil Salt's astounding 141 not out -- in which he recorded the fastest and highest T20 century by an Englishman -- helped the hosts to a record-breaking 146-run win at Old Trafford on Friday to level the three-match series at 1-1.
South Africa won a rain-affected series opener at Cardiff on Wednesday but any hope of a winner-takes-all clash in Nottingham began to evaporate when a light shower started to fall shortly before the 2:00 pm local time (1300 GMT) toss.
England captain Harry Brook and South Africa skipper Aiden Markram emerged from the pavilion for a toss rescheduled for 2:10 pm.
But that was called off as the showers intensified and, with the rain unrelenting, the umpires officially abandoned the match at 4:20 pm.