Second India-New Zealand ODI washed out due to rain

Wellington, March 6 : Brisk half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag went in vain as rain washed out the second one-day international between India and New Zealand at the Westpac Stadium here Friday.

The match was interrupted by rain thrice forcing the umpires to abandon the match as India maintained a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Sehwag blasted 54 from 36 balls and Tendulkar made 61 from 69 deliveries as India made 188 for four in 28.4 overs, after Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat.

Sehwag hit nine fours and a six during his stay and was given erroneously out caught by debutant wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan off Ian Butler. Sehwag used a runner in the last part of his innings because of a calf injury.

Umpire Evan Watkin judged the ball kissed the inside edge of Sehwag's bat but TV replays indicated the delivery had flicked the pad as Sehwag left the field with obvious reluctance.

Tendulkar on the other end got to his 91st ODI half century and hit one six, and six fours during his 69-ball stay.

The first spell of shower disrupted the match when India were 130-1 and kept the players from the field for 65 minutes. When they returned, only 22 minutes of play was possible but by then New Zealand claimed two wickets in five overs.

Tendulkar was trapped leg-before by New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and Yuvraj Singh departed without opening his account caught by Ross Taylor off Kyle Mills.

Dhoni (23 not out) and Raina (13 not not) then started to score quickly before rain again came down forcing the umpires to call it a day.

The third match is scheduled for Christchurch Sunday.

--IANS