Eden Park stood ready for fireworks. Fans packed the stands. Players warmed up for battle. But nature had other plans – delivering the wettest anti-climax in recent cricket history.
The Match That Never Was
Only three balls were bowled in Auckland before rain drowned the decisive T20 clash. England’s Luke Wood managed just 12 deliveries to New Zealand openers before umpires stopped play. The soggy spectacle ended with:
- 0 runs scored
- 0 wickets taken
- 0 boundaries hit
Ground staff fought a losing battle against the elements for four hours before officials called off the match at 3:45 PM local time.
How England Won Without Playing
| Match | Result | Series Impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Washed Out | 0-0 |
| 2nd T20I | England won by 65 runs | 1-0 |
| 3rd T20I | Abandoned | England win series 1-0 |
England captain Harry Brook collected the trophy under umbrellas rather than fireworks. “Obviously not how we wanted to win,” he admitted, “but we’ll take any series victory against quality opposition.”
What Might Have Been
Both teams fielded strong lineups hoping to end the series with flair:
New Zealand’s Planned Attack
- Tim Seifert (wk)
- Tim Robinson
- Rachin Ravindra
- Mark Chapman
- Daryl Mitchell
- Michael Bracewell
- James Neesham
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Zakary Foulkes
- Matt Henry
- Jacob Duffy
England’s Intended XI
- Philip Salt
- Jos Buttler (wk)
- Jacob Bethell
- Harry Brook (c)
- Tom Banton
- Sam Curran
- Jordan Cox
- Brydon Carse
- Liam Dawson
- Adil Rashid
- Luke Wood
As Sky Sports reported, the abandonment continues Eden Park’s reputation as a rain-prone venue – seven of the last 15 limited-overs matches here have been affected by weather.
Fan Fury and Funny Reactions
Social media exploded with reactions to cricket’s most underwhelming finale:
Paid $120 for tickets. Saw 18 seconds of cricket. Drank 4 beers in the rain. Worth it? #NZvENG
Broadcasters faced backlash too. Sony Sports and Amazon Prime Video subscribers demanded refunds after the non-event. One fan joked: “I’ve watched paint dry with more excitement.”
What’s Next for Both Teams?
The soggy conclusion raises questions about future scheduling:
- New Zealand must address batting inconsistencies exposed in the second T20I
- England continues building toward next year’s World Cup with this psychological boost
- Both teams now prepare for ODI series starting November 1
As ESPNcricinfo noted, this marked England’s first T20 series win in New Zealand since 2019 – however anticlimactic the finale.
The Silver Lining?
While players and fans felt robbed of spectacle, the early finish allowed:
- Ground staff to begin pitch recovery
- Broadcast crews to pack equipment dry
- Players to start recovery for upcoming ODIs
As Mitchell Santner philosophically stated: “That’s New Zealand in spring. We’re used to rain dances more than victory dances sometimes.”
