Second New Zealand-Australia ODI abandoned

Rain and a damp outfield forced the abandonment of the second One-Day International between New Zealand and Australia without a ball being bowled in Napier on Thursday (February 2).

The rain eased off in Napier around the time of the scheduled 2pm start and the umpires at one stage announced a new time with the game reduced to 37 overs.

But the outfield never dried sufficiently for play to get underway and the match was abandoned five hours later without even the toss happening.

New Zealand won the series opener by six runs in Auckland on Monday despite a fighting 146* by Marcus Stoinis that lifted Australia from 67 for 6 in their chase of 287.

A follow-up victory for New Zealand would see the team regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy it lost in a 3-0 defeat in Australia in early December.

Australia will retain the trophy if it wins the final game that will be held in Hamilton on Sunday.