Australia vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI at Sydney, , Dec 16 2007 - Match Result

7.20pm Match abandoned. This had been becoming increasingly likely following continual rain. So, New Zealand now need to win at Hobart on Thursday to retain the title, while a win for Australia (or no-result) will hand it to their rivals.

Australia will be disappointed with the weather today as they had New Zealand three down after only six overs. Thanks for joining me today and do come back on Thursday where it will be a winner-takes-all affair.

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7.15pm Antiques Roadshow has long since finished on TV and in its place, Michael Slater is cycling around in a four-man bike contraption in a health show.

7.00pm Drizzle... and more drizzle... Play is very unlikely now.

6.15pm As the time passes, it's looking increasingly less likely that we'll get a game here. If there's no match today, a win for New Zealand in Hobart will mean they retain the three-match series 1-1. Some good news for Australia, though, golfer Craig Parry has won the Australian Open.

5.40pm Nothing good in the way of news, I'm afraid. There are plenty of umbrellas up, plenty voting with their feet. Play can be called off at 8pm, but it may happen earlier.

The crowd are making their own entertainment. No, not beer snakes but paper planes are being made and thrown towards the outfield and when one makes it there's a loud cheer.

The weather looks set in and, an ominous sign, Nine has switched to regular programming. It's the Antiques Roadshow all the way.

5.15pm Still raining, I'm afraid. The puddles are getting puddlier. The groundstaff reckon that, even if/when the rain stops, they will need a further 45-minutes to clear the area.

4.45pm Famous, and not-so-famous last words... the rain has now got pretty heavy so it doesn't look like we'll see much action soon.

4.30pm Rain, rainy, rainiest. Actually, it doesn't look too bad if we take a look at the radar - always gets me how the English invented cricket in such a rainy country... There'll be a few overs lost already. Something more for you to check out while we drum our fingers.

4pm It's still raining... What else is going on in the world? Hmm, not much. There's this, some historical that and if you're really bored, then there's the other.

3.40pm No news is good news, and this news is bad news... the rain's continuing, folks.

3.30pm The rain's been getting harder so off come the players and on comes the tractor trailing the covers. I'll keep you posted with a weather-watch.

Three slips in

Australia snarling out there, New Zealand with a massive rebuild job on their hands here. Taylor's in on the back of a quick fifty at Adelaide, how they need him to make a good total here, and of course Styris is a contender, while Oram can always offer some decent batting

Two slips and a gully by the way

Electric atmosphere out there, New Zealand being battered by the pace on all fronts