Saturday 2 January 2016 08:26, UK
New Zealand's fourth one-day international against Sri Lanka was abandoned at Saxton Oval, leaving the hosts with a 2-1 advantage in the five-match series.
Umpires Richard Illingworth and Billy Bowden took the decision after just nine overs of New Zealand's innings when rain intervened for the final time in Nelson on Saturday.
New Zealand were 75-3 after nine of their 24 overs following a delayed start to the game which began at 3.40pm local time after overnight rain and persistent showers kept players off the ground until the umpires decided a shortened game could begin.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and his bowlers reduced the hosts to 53-3 in the seventh over with opener Martin Guptill (27 from 14 balls) and Kane Williamson (12) both out, swinging the match in the visitors favour.
But leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay struggled to control his grip on the wet ball and Ross Taylor hit three boundaries as the bowler conceded 15 runs in his first over.
Light rain then drove the players off the field at about 4.20pm, with Taylor on 20 and Henry Nicholls on four.
The visitors kept the five-match series alive with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory in the third match at the same venue on December 31, after New Zealand easily won the first two games at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The fifth match is at Mt. Maunganui on Tuesday, before the tour concludes with two Twenty20 internationals on January 7 and January 10.
