Rain only increases the frustration for Australia at Edgbaston

With David Warner dropped from the Australian team after his well-documented “unprovoked physical attack” on Yorkshire’s Joe Root in Birmingham at the weekend, those who did make the starting XI were hoping to make up for their opening defeat England.

But they had to settle for a point with their near-neighbours when bad weather set in 15 overs into the second innings.

At that time New Zealand were on 51-2 chasing Australia’s 
243-8 – 15 short of the Duckworth/Lewis par, which can only be used to determined a result after a minimum 20 overs.

Prior to the rain it had been a productive day for Adam Voges (71), George Bailey (55) and New Zealand’s Mitchell McClenaghan, whose mixed bag with the ball yielded four wickets for 65 runs.

In the nascent New Zealand innings Clint McKay took the early wickets of Martin Guptill and Luke Ronchi, leaving both results possible when play was halted.

Having won the toss Australia’s top order seemingly attempted to draw attention away from Warner with a shambolic start to their innings.

Shane Watson lasted just seven balls before he wafted at McClenaghan and was caught at the wicket by Ronchi, who started his international career with a brief stint in the Australia one-day side before his recent switch of allegiance.

Phil Hughes was then run out for a duck after a botched single involving Matthew Wade allowed Guptill to take the bails.

The dependable Bailey, again captaining in place of the injured Michael Clarke, was next man in and he and Wade steadied the ship with a controlled stand of 64.

Wade fell for 29 in 57 balls when Nathan McCullum trapped him lbw, a verdict that was unwisely reviewed by the batsman.

Bailey’s next partner was Voges and while Daniel Vettori made it hard to score, the new man looked to pick up the rate.

The fourth-wicket put on 77 in 16 overs before McCullum managed to bowl Bailey, who had mustered a 71-ball half-century. Australia made 25 without further loss in the batting powerplay, reaching 176 for four, but the return of McClenaghan halted their progress.

He took two wickets in as many balls, Mitchell Marsh (22) mis-judging a pull and the aggressive Voges somehow hitting a full toss into the hands of a grateful Brendon McCullum. It was an ill-fitting end for an enterprising innings that included seven fours and almost a run-a-ball.

That left Australia 196-6 with 35 balls remaining and they added 47 runs for the loss of two wickets.

Dale Steyn could be available for South Africa’s crunch Champions Trophy clash against West Indies tomorrow after coming through a full training session today unscathed.

The paceman was unavailable for the defeat against India and the win over Pakistan due to a side strain.

The Windies have also won and lost once, meaning Friday’s encounter at Cardiff will determine who will progress to the semi-finals from Group B.