The opening T20 International between New Zealand and England was abandoned on Saturday after persistent rain prevented any further play at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. England, who batted first, had reached 153 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs before the showers brought the match to a halt.

England’s Batting Struggles

Sent in on a pitch that offered unpredictable bounce, England’s top order found it difficult to settle. Captain Jos Buttler managed 29 runs before mistiming a shot to the deep, leaving England reeling at 81 for 5 in the 12th over.

The innings, however, found stability thanks to Sam Curran, who remained unbeaten on 49. His calculated strokes and timely boundaries, including a late burst of 19 runs off the final over by Jacob Duffy, helped England post a competitive total despite the challenging conditions.

New Zealand’s Bowling Highlights

Mitchell Santner was the standout bowler for New Zealand, finishing with figures of 1 for 20 from four overs. The Kiwi bowlers maintained discipline in difficult conditions, preventing England from dominating the game.

Rain Interruptions

Rain first delayed play when England were 110 for 5 in the 17th over, suspending the match for nearly 30 minutes. Although the innings briefly resumed, the showers returned with full force, ending the match before New Zealand could begin their chase.

With the opening match abandoned, both teams will now focus on the remaining fixtures: the second T20 in Christchurch on Monday and the series finale in Auckland on Thursday. These matches will determine the outcome of the short series.