Rain abandoned play in Edgbaston, in a repeat of the 2013 Champions Trophy clash between New Zealand and Australia.
Kane Williamson won the toss and elected to bat first, as Martin Guptill and Luke Ronchi started off proceedings.
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Guptill got off to a steady start, but gave Australia the early breakthrough they were looking for when the big-hitter was dismissed in the sixth over on 26 off 22 balls.
New Zealand steadied the ship, despite a rain delay hampering their innings at 67-1, three balls into the 10th over, which knocked off four overs from the allotted 50 overs.
Ironically, the last Champions Trophy meeting between the sides was also affected by rain, which saw the contest washed out at the same ground in 2013.
Once play got on the way again, the Black Caps managed to push past the 100-mark, courtesy of a 43-ball 65 from Ronchi.
The 36-year-old hit nine fours and three sixes, but his expansive approach was his downfall, as he struck the ball straight into the hands of Glenn Maxwell at point.
Williamson and Ross Taylor showed their experience to continue the Black Caps’ steady start. The pair were one run away from their 12th century partnership when Taylor lost his wicket on 46, to reduce NZ to 216-3 (33.5 overs).
The New Zealand skipper kept his nerve to reach his first century against Australia in 96 balls, but he was run out the following delivery, shortly after bringing up his side’s 250.
Williamson’s wicket triggered a collapse, as they added only 37 runs to their total, losing six wickets during that period.
Josh Hazlewood (6-52) was ruthless, adding to his wicket of Guptill by picking up five more scalps as NZ were bowled out for 291 with an over remaining.
The innings break was met with more showers, which set Australia a revised target of 235 off 33 overs.
David Warner and Aaron Finch got off to a slow start and managed only 27 runs in five overs before the fall of the first wicket. Trent Boult continued his phenomenal record against the Aussies, taking his tally to 25 scalps in 11 games with the wicket of Warner (18 runs off 16 balls).
Finch was next to go, Adam Milne catching his edge to reduce Australia to 35-2 halfway through the sixth over.
Milne piled more pressure on Australia when Moises Henriques’ inside edge came off his pad and looped up into the hands of the bowler.
With the Baggy Greens on 53-3, rain disrupted New Zealand’s brutal start, as play was abandoned with 24 overs remaining.
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