Rain could be the talking point once again in the India vs New Zealand ODI series as the two teams prepare for the second match in Wellington on this Saturday . Rain disrupted the first ODI in Auckland but with weather forecast for Wellington looking wet too there is fresh talk of another shortened contest.
India lead the five-match series 1-0 after winning the rain affected first ODI by five wickets but weather could make life difficult for both teams at Hnry Stadium (formerly Sky Stadium).
Wellington Weather Forecast for November 7
Wellington is expected to be overcast with spells of rain in the afternoon.
There is about a 60–63% chance of rain during the day. Showers increase around match time, with forecasts predicting a heavy rain threat between 2 PM and 4 PM local time.
Temperatures will stay between 15°C and 20°C, with heavy cloud cover persisting throughout the contest.
The match is scheduled to start at 3 PM local time so rain could delay the start of play or interrupt proceedings after play starts.
However rain reducing later in the afternoon could give teams an opportunity to play at least some part of the match.
Rain Already Affected India's First ODI
The weather concerns follow rain which played a big role in the first ODI between India and New Zealand at Auckland on November 4.
New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs after India’s bowlers were in fine form.
India’s chase was interrupted by rain and the target had to be revised under Duckworth–Lewis–Stern method. The visitors chased down 143 runs in 22.4 overs and won the match by five wickets.
Virat Kohli was India’s star batter with 74 from 51 balls. He helped India win an important game and take an early lead in the series.
Friday Rain Disrupts Team Preparations
The weather has already had an impact on preparations for the Wellington game.
Rain continued to batter India on Friday and they had to cancel their outdoor training session. New Zealand had to change plans too and moved indoor practice.
The interruptions have led to concerns about playing conditions and whether there could be another rain-affected international match.
Hnry Stadium Pitch Report
The Hnry Stadium surface in Wellington is generally favourable to fast bowlers early in an innings.
Cloudy weather and moisture in the air could help seamers as well. So the opening overs will be tougher for batters.
However if the weather improves the surface might get better for batting as the match goes on.
The team who wins the toss may want to bowl first as rain interruptions could affect the match and DLS calculations.
Can Rain Wash Out India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI?
A complete washout is still possible but the forecast doesn’t mean that the match will be abandoned.
There might be breaks in the rain so ground staff can prep the surface and officials can schedule a reduced over contest.
India will be looking to go 2-0 up in the series while New Zealand will want to bounce back on home soil.
Final Weather Verdict
Rain is a major problem for the India vs New Zealand second ODI in Wellington. Forecasts show there’s a good chance showers will come around the scheduled start time so delay or interruption could be an option.
Cricket fans will be hoping that the weather improves sufficiently for both teams to play a competitive game rather than another shortened match.
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