Australia vs New Zealand: Second ODI at Napier abandoned amid rain and wet outfield

The second one-day international between New Zealand and Australia scheduled to be played at Napier on Thursday was abandoned due to heavy rain and a damp outfield. 

The match was called off without a single ball being bowled. The series will now be decided in the final match in Hamilton on Sunday.

New Zealand won the series opener by six runs in Auckland on Monday and a follow-up victory would see them regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy they lost in a 3-0 whitewash in Australia in early December.

The rain eased off in Napier around the time of the scheduled 2:00pm 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.