Rain delays second New Zealand-Australia ODI

Rain and a damp outfield delayed the start of the second one-day international between New Zealand and Australia in Napier on Thursday.

The umpires at one stage called for a start nearly three hours after the scheduled toss and reduced the match to 37-overs-a-side.

But this was later cancelled when a further inspection showed the outfield had not dried sufficiently.

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.