Everywhere they go, they always take the weather with them

Poor Kiwis! They just can't catch a break on this tour!

In the second ODI, which was very much rain affected, they were 19 overs into their run chase, needing 7 (for their Duckworth Lewis revised target) off their 20th over so that they could call it a win and... the umpires decided it was too rainy to continue.

England, I must say, weren't exactly rushing to bowl the overs.

Also, they took the full half-hour innings break and ok it was a bit mizzly for some of those 30 minutes but the forecast for later in the day was truly dreadful. They should have been playing, given that the start was delayed by four hours, but apparently the regulations didn't allow that. Hmm. Emergency meeting THAT please, MCC.

[b]Obligatory Update On The Gingers:[/b] Ian Bell was out third ball of the innings - WHOOPS. Collingwood got 37, bowled quite well, and was involved in one of those run outs where the third umpire has to decide which player failed to make it home (he just about got home before Bopara). Bopara involved in a run out, shock horror, I know.

[b]Things that happened:[/b] Baz McCullum got 60 off 51 balls, very good, but in vain. Luke Wright got a 50 off 33 balls, very good, expect to see him in the opening slot more.

[b]Things that didn't happen:[/b] any Kevin Pietersen switch-hitting, anything of note from Tim Ambrose. Come ON Tim.

[b]Things that almost happened:[/b] a Tim Southee hattrick.

[b]Things that should have happened:[/b] A New Zealand win.www.cricketwithballs.com

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