The second Twenty20 International between New Zealand and Australia was abandoned due to persistent rain at Mount Maunganui on Friday.
This outcome left the visitors with an unassailable 1-0 lead in the three-match Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series.
New Zealand Vs Australia: 2nd T20I – Highlights
Rain delayed the toss at Bay Oval by nearly 30 minutes, allowing a brief window of play later in the evening. The match was eventually reduced to a nine-overs-a-side contest and commenced around 9:30 p.m. local time. New Zealand’s captain won the toss and chose to field first, aiming to restrict Australia early. However, just 13 deliveries into the game, the rain returned, and play was halted for good. At the time of abandonment, Australia had reached 16 for 1 in 2.1
overs, with captain Mitchell Marsh unbeaten on eight runs.
This result guarantees Australia, who won the opening match of the series by six wickets at the same venue on Wednesday, will retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy regardless of the result in the third and final T20I. The trophy, contested in a limited-overs series between the trans-Tasman rivals, has been in Australian hands since 2019 and will remain with them for at least another season.
The abandonment disappointed local fans, who had braved the wet weather in hopes of witnessing a hard-fought contest. Bay Oval had provided an electric atmosphere in the first game, but Friday’s persistent downpour never allowed the encounter to take shape.
Both teams will now turn their attention to Saturday’s final fixture, also scheduled at Bay Oval, though further showers are forecast. Although the series result is already decided, both sides are expected to treat the match seriously as preparation ahead of a busy international calendar. “The trophy holds a lot of history for both teams,” Marsh said after the washout. “We came here to win it outright, so there’s still plenty to play for.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
