Kiwis win series as second T20 is abandoned

Cricket365
June 27, 2013

The second T20 between England and New Zealand was abandoned after only two deliveries due to rain in London on Thursday, handing the Black Caps a one-nil series win after a long stint in Blighty.

England were captained by James Tredwell in the absence of Eoin Morgan, who had a finger injury, but he didn't get to do anything other than lose the toss. England went in to bat and lost Michael Lumb in the first over, after which the rain arrived.

There was discussion of a five-per-side game at one stage, but just as the players were about to come onto the field, the rain started pelting down and the covers returned, leaving no time for recovery.

The sold out crowd booed the abandonment as they had been eager to see batsman Kevin Pietersen play his first game for England on home soil in nearly a year.

He last played at home in the Headingley Test against South Africa, after which he went into the 'Textgate' exile, and then picked up the knee injury that kept him out for three more months.

Meanwhile, Morgan confirmed he had picked up a broken finger during the Champions Trophy semi-final against South Africa, and would be out for around three weeks after having a small operation on Friday.

He said: "It's looking like an operation (on Friday) to try and get it pinned and ready as soon as possible. It can be as short as two to three (weeks out) and then ongoing from there.

"Obviously it will be closely monitored by our backroom staff, who have been exceptional, and hopefully I'll get back to full fitness as soon as possible."

New Zealand won both limited-overs series on this trip, prompting a number of counties to recruit their players for the Friends Life T20 campaigns, including Kyle Mills and Ian Butler.

England: Michael Lumb, Alex Hales, Luke Wright, Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wk), Ben Stokes, James Tredwell (capt), Danny Briggs, Jade Dernbach, Boyd Rankin

New Zealand: Hamish Rutherford, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum (capt, wk), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Colin Munro, Corey Anderson, Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler, Mitchell McClenaghan, Ronnie Hira