END OF OVER:
9 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 53/3 (182 runs required from 24 overs, RR: 5.88, RRR: 7.58)

  • Steven Smith8 (6b)
  • Adam Milne2-0-9-2
  • Trent Boult4-0-28-1

Let's move on then. South Africa take on Sri Lanka, possibly without Angelo Mathews, at The Oval on Saturday. Andrew Fidel Fernando sets you up with the preview. And, of course, there will be plenty of build-up to the big India-Pakistan game, also at Edgbaston on Sunday. Let's hope the forecast for that is a lot better. Sad finish then, tonight. I'll leave you with out snapshots page as a parting shot. All the chatter around the tournament right here. See you soon. Cheers!

It's a big sporting week in prospect for Cardiff, who host their first match of the Champions Trophy on Tuesday, when England take on New Zealand. Before then, however, there's the small matter of the UEFA Champions League Final. ESPNFC are already out in force for that event, with full coverage including, for UK viewers, full match highlights.

6.28pm The news we all didn't want to hear: The match has been abandoned just like their 2013 Champions Trophy fixture at the same venue was. Both teams will take home one point each. New Zealand would feel they've been robbed of a win. Australia will savour the 'get out of jail' feeling.

New Zealand's pace riches were there for everyone to see in the nine overs that were possible. A intimidating Australia top-order were brought to their knees. Shots out of desperation resulted in a few boundaries, but they looked like a side under pressure today. The groundwork for the strong total , Josh Hazlewood's six-for notwithstanding, was done by Kane Williamson, who made a sparkling ninth ODI ton. Luke Ronchi, played ahead of Tom Latham, impressed too. All good signs for New Zealand.

6.15pm Looking bleak now. Proper rain. "I fear there's almost no chance of that. No result," says George Dobell. Unlikely we can start by 6.50pm to constitute a 20-overs game. What a pity

Asif: "One can only imagine how desperately fans from India and Pakistan are praying right now." More so those who've travelled all the way from both countries to watch this and I know a few who have.

Rohan: "Hey Shashank, so to resume by 6:48 pm by when should the rain stop for the crew to do the mop up?" Lets say at least 15 minutes

Suhaib: "So it's come down to Trans-Tasman battle of prayers for rain to stop or not to stop till 6:48 pm. What disappointment for the fans and the sport."

Sushil: "Shashank, can't they go on until 2:00 AM like IPL to get the result?" Ha! Don't even remind them of this possibility. Good lord

Kamran: "Sharing points in this game will have huge hit on any chance of Bangladesh going through to the semis." For starters, they have to anyway win their remaining two games to take other results out of the equation. Plus, if that happens, they will go through because the max Australia and New Zealand can get to would be three points.

6.03pm There's just a chance the worst of this will skirt the ground, says George Dobell, who is dangling out of the press-box window clutching a knot of seaweed

Guru: "What happens if there is no more play possible? Do they split points, or is there a reserve day?" No reserve day. They'll share points

17.55pm Doesn't look good at all, if pictures from Edgbaston are anything to go by. Dark, heavy, gloomy, grey. Whatever you want to call it. As things stand, Australia won't really mind the rain. New Zealanders will be left wondering if there's anyway they can squeeze in 11 more overs. As things stand, they're bossing this. We have to start by 6.50pm to have a 20-over game. Target will be 174 if it's down to that.

8.6
W
Milne to Henriques, OUT, the streaky innings has ended. Gets a big, fat inside edge onto the pad as he plays outside the line of the delivery. This one moved back in off the seam as well. Simple catch on the followthrough for Milne. Australia in tatters. The rain arrives as they come together to celebrate.

MC Henriques c & b Milne 18 (12m 14b 4x4 0x6) SR: 128.57

8.5
4
Milne to Henriques, FOUR, edged and it bursts through Ross Taylor's hands at first slip. Bounced well in front of him, could've been stopped nevertheless. Henriques was squared up
8.4
0
Milne to Henriques, no run, gets this to jag back in off the deck from length on off, pushed to the leg side

Starting to drizzle

8.3
0
Milne to Henriques, no run, plants fully forward to bunt the length ball to cover

Kane's best

81

Previous highest score for Williamson in ODIs against Australia, which came in Canberra in December 2016.

Once again

527

Runs added by Williamson and Taylor as a pair in their last 4 ODI outings in England, including today. Their stands - 121, 206, 101, 99.

One to improve

35.11

Kane Williamson's average in ODIs against Aus, his second-lowest among full-member teams. In 11 innings, before today, he has scored only 2 fifties v Aus.

After a long time

36

No. of consecutive ODI inns without a fifty for Ronchi, before scoring one today. His last such score was 170* against SL in Dunedin in June 2015.

Good toss to lose?

1-4

Win-loss record of toss winning teams at Edgbaston in the last 5 completed ODIs. The only win was by India in the 2013 Champions Trophy final.

Australia's dominance

1999

Last time Aus lost to NZ in a neutral ODI, in the 1999 World Cup. Overall, Aus have a 17-1 win-loss record v NZ in 19 neutral ODIs.

ICC Champions Trophy (ICC KnockOut)

Group A
TeamMWLPTNRR
ENG33061.045
BAN31130
AUS3012-0.992
NZ3021-1.058
Group B
TeamMWLPTNRR
IND32141.37
PAK3214-0.68
SA31220.167
SL3122-0.798