Black Caps v England result: Another rain-ruined affair as New Zealand lose Twenty20 series

Once again, rain has had the decisive say in the Black Caps’ start to this international cricketing summer.

For the third time out of six attempts, a Twenty20 International has been washed out, this time seeing the Black Caps’ final match against England abandoned at Eden Park after just 3.4 overs.

After game one of the series was also washed out at the halfway stage, England take the trophy with a 1-0 scoreline, courtesy of a 65-run victory at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.

This summer, which began with a rain-affected 2-0 series defeat to Australia at Mt Maunganui’s Bay Oval, is the earliest start to an international season in New Zealand’s cricketing history.

In fact, the season has begun so early, domestic cricket does not start until this Saturday, when the 50-over Ford Trophy begins.

Two of the three games against Australia were interrupted by rain, the same as what played out against England over the past week. The risk of starting the summer in the spring has been realised with two series losses, in which rain has had more of an impact than the Black Caps.

It took just one ball - which Tim Seifert whipped off his toes through midwicket for four - before the rain began to fall. However, as Seifert played and missed the second ball, and hit the third over the off-side for another boundary, the heavens opened over Kingsland.

Although there was a brief resumption that saw Seifert hit sixes over fine leg and midwicket, in a 14 overs per side contest, the rain returned after just 19 balls. And after an eight over a side game was slated to start at 10pm, rain returned for the final time at 9:59pm and put the crowd out of its misery.

The washout means New Zealand are still winless to begin the home summer, while coach Rob Walter is yet to taste a Black Caps victory on Kiwi soil.

The Black Caps will have the chance to rectify that as early as this Sunday, when the three-match one-day international (ODI) series begins in Mount Maunganui.

Clearer weather is expected for the start of the ODI series, but rain is forecast for game two in Hamilton next Wednesday.

New Zealand 38/1 (Seifert 23 not out; Carse 1/25)

No result