Rain washes out New Zealand-Afghanistan clash

The cut-off time for the match to begin was 10.04pm but at 9.25pm, 25 minutes after a scheduled inspection had been delayed, the match was abandoned

The Melbourne rain that cut short England's unsuccessful run-chase against Ireland remained to wash out Afghanistan's clash with New Zealand without a ball being bowled.

The second game of the day at the MCG never got as far as the toss, with the wet weather occasionally disappearing for long enough to remove the covers but returning soon after.

The cut-off time for the match to begin was 10.04pm but at 9.25pm, 25 minutes after a scheduled inspection had been delayed, the match was abandoned, with the sides taking a point apiece.

That means New Zealand are now the only unbeaten team in Group one, following England's earlier defeat, sending Kane Williamson's men top of the pool after two games, with a healthy net run rate to boot as a result of their mauling of Australia.

^{There was no play in the second game of the day at the MCG (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)}

Afghanistan are bottom of the table despite taking their first point of the competition. Had the game gone ahead, opener Hazratullah Zazai would have missed out for Mohammad Nabi's side with a muscle strain.

The abandonment keeps the group somewhat condensed, with New Zealand prevented from having the chance to move two points clear of the chasing pack.

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