India and New Zealand never got onto the field at Seddon Park, leaving the visitors in command of the five-match ODI series with two matches remaining.
HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND — India’s push to close out its ODI series against New Zealand will have to wait.
Persistent rain brought the third One Day International at Seddon Park to an end before a single ball could be bowled, leaving India with its 2–0 advantage intact in the five-match series.
The weather had threatened the contest from the beginning. Rain and a wet outfield delayed proceedings before officials eventually reduced the scheduled match to 40 overs per side. India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field, but the rain returned before play could begin.
With conditions failing to improve, officials eventually abandoned the match without a ball being delivered. For India, the no-result preserves a commanding position built through victories in Auckland and Wellington.
India opened the ODI series with a five-wicket DLS victory in Auckland after New Zealand was dismissed for 185. The second match proved considerably tighter. New Zealand made 134 before India reached 113 for seven in its rain-interrupted chase, finishing four runs ahead of the DLS par score when play was called.
That gave India a 2–0 lead heading into Hamilton.
The third consecutive weather-affected ODI means New Zealand can no longer win the series outright. The hosts can, however, still level the contest 2–2 by winning both remaining matches.
India therefore remains one result away from ensuring the series belongs to the visitors.
The tour now moves to Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui for the fourth ODI on November 13, followed by the fifth and final ODI at the same venue on November 15.
After rain dictated the story in Auckland, Wellington and now Hamilton, both sides will be hoping the final two matches finally deliver a more complete examination of a series that has so far been shaped as much by the weather as by the cricket.
