Napier, Feb 2 (IANS): Incessant rain and a wet outfield forced the second One-day International (ODI) cricket match between Australia and New Zealand to be called off without a ball being bowled here on Thursday.
Despite the rain easing off by the time of the scheduled start of play, the umpires found the outfield wet and unfit for play to get underway. As a result, the match was abandoned five hours later.
The hosts won the opener by six runs in Auckland on Monday and were aiming to wrap up the three-match Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, with a win here.
Australia will retain the trophy, it won in early December, if they win the final game in Hamilton on Sunday.