Rain washes out Dunedin ODI

Match abandoned due to rain
Scorecard

The fourth one-day international between New Zealand and South Africa was abandoned without a ball being bowled after heavy rain left Carisbrook sodden. The match will be played tomorrow (February 25) starting at midday, weather permitting.

Play looked likely when Graeme Smith won the toss and put New Zealand in to bat. But the heavens opened shortly before the scheduled 2pm start and continued for almost three hours. When it did stop, the umpires made a brief inspection but decided there was no chance of even a 25-overs-a-side contest.

New Zealand made one change for the game, Michael Mason replacing the injured Daryl Tuffey.

The rain not only washed out the one-dayer, it also meant that Herschelle Gibbs's birthday celebrations were put on hold. Gibbs is 30 today, and he admitted that he hoped to celebrate after the match. "It's the actual birthday, turning 30, that concerns me more," he explained. "We had an early birthday party on Saturday but [today's] just a normal day. I'll have to wait until after the game and from what I've seen it's a good place to go out."

And Gibbs was not worried about reaching 30. "It's just a number you know. I still feel like I'm 24, 25," he said. "From a cricketing point of view guys tend to play their best cricket when they're 30 and above, so hopefully the best years are still to come."