Rain washes out final T20I as Australia seal series 2-0

Due to persistent rain in North Sydney, the third and final T20I match between Australia and New Zealand was abandoned after only 2.4 overs were bowled.

After winning the first match by two wickets and then winning the second by 40 runs in a series that was entirely played at North Sydney Oval, Australia had already won the Rose Bowl. The teams will meet again for an ODI series in March.

Play did begin more than an hour after the scheduled time, and Australia captain Sophie Molineux chose to bowl in what was supposed to be a 14-over shortened match. But heavy rain returned shortly after and did not relent as the match was abandoned.

It was an anti-climactic finish to what had been a largely competitive series in a return to the format for both sides since the T20 World Cup.

Both teams named unchanged line-ups, but New Zealand reshuffled their batting-order after struggling in game two having made only 127 for 8 to fall well short in the chase.

Skipper Melie Kerr moved up from No.3 to open, replacing Flora Devonshire who moved down to six, while big-hitter Izzy Sharp shifted to No.3 from five.

Kerr did not receive the strike until the eighth delivery of the innings, but she was keen to get on with it after whacking Molineux for a first-ball boundary through the covers. Kerr on the next delivery skied to mid-on to gift Molineux her 20th first-over wicket of her career.

After bowling a series of slower balls, quick Kim Garth outwitted opener Georgia Plimmer with a quick delivery that rattled the stumps. However, the series came to a disappointing end when torrential rain fell on the ground.

Due to Cricket Australia's strict rules regarding the use of prescription medications, Australia's seamer Megan Schutt was not eligible for selection. She was suspended for two matches.

Schutt had been overlooked for the opening two matches after starring in the ODI series against Bangladesh.