Rain spoils trans-Tasman decider in Auckland

Australia’s hopes of maintaining their winning streak in T20 International series have been scuppered by rain, with the third and deciding match against New Zealand in Auckland washed out.

Just 2.5 overs were possible at Eden Park, with Australia reaching 1-14 after being sent in to bat before the umpires signaled for the covers.

The series ended tied at 1-1, after Australia claimed a six-wicket win in the opening match before New Zealand hit back with a thrilling final-ball victory in the second.

"We would have loved to play a game today and see what the result was but unfortunately you can’t control the weather," Australia captain Meg Lanning said.

"It was disappointing because I think it would have been a really good game because both sides have been playing reasonably well and at an amazing stadium as well. Frustrating, that’s for sure.

"We’ve really enjoyed our time here so far, we’ve enjoyed a bit of freedom and (played) games.

"We’ve adjusted reasonably well, that first game we weren’t realty sure what to expect but I thought we got into the contest quickly."

The tied result means that while Australia have maintained their unbeaten run in T20I series and tournaments, a streak that started in March 2018, it is the first time they have failed to win a T20 series since the 20-over leg of the Ashes in November 2017.

While she did not take the field due to the washout, Ellyse Perry made history as she became the most capped player in T20Is, with her 123rd appearance surpassing the record held by injured New Zealand star Suzie Bates. 

Australia and New Zealand will now turn their attention to the upcoming three-match ODI series, where the trans-Tasman rivals will do battle for the Rose Bowl trophy at Tauranga’s Bay Oval.

There, Lanning's team will be aiming to post their 22rd consecutive victory in the format, having equalled the world record set by Ricky Ponting's 2003 team last October.  

New Zealand have suffered an injury blow ahead of those matches, with Frances Mackay, the hero of Tuesday’s final-ball win, to miss the remainder of the tour after suffering a tear to her right calf.

Captain Sophie Devine’s involvement in the one-day series is also unclear, after the star allrounder missed a second consecutive match on Thursday.

Devine is suffering from fatigue but will remain with the White Ferns group, with a statement from New Zealand cricket stating: "She didn’t think she could do justice to the team or herself by playing in Napier so a decision was made to rest her.

"After an extensive season that started back in September 2020, Sophie will look at how she can best balance her cricket commitments with the need to rest and recover over the coming days."

New Zealand XI: Hayley Jensen, Katey Martin (wk), Amy Satterthwaite (c), Amelia Kerr, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hannah Rowe, Lauren Down, Thamsyn Newton, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair

Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Nicola Carey, Georgia Wareham, Jess Jonassen, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck

CommBank tour of New Zealand 2021

Australia ODI & T20I Squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham, Belinda Vakarewa, Tayla Vlaeminck

New Zealand T20I squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Frances Mackay, Katey Martin (wk), Thamsyn Newton, Hannah Rowe

New Zealand ODI squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek - (games 2 & 3 only), Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frances Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin (wk), Hannah Rowe (game 1 only), Lea Tahuhu

1st T20: Australia won by six wickets

2nd T20: New Zealand won by four wickets

3rd T20: Play abandoned due to rain

1st ODI: April 4, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 9am AEDT

2nd ODI: April 7, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

3rd ODI: April 10, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

All matches will be shown live in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo