Australia vs New Zealand, 2nd Match, Group A - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: ICC Champions Trophy, 2017 Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham Date & Time: Jun 02, 10:30 AM LOCAL

Adam Milne picked up two wickets before third rain interruption forced the officials to call off the clash. © Getty

CALLED OFF: New Zealand will feel Australia got away here. They were on top when rain stopped play for the third time in the day. Williamson struck a classy ton but Australia came back to dent them in the death overs on the back of Hazlewood's six-for. A frustrating day comes to an end with both teams sharing a point each. That's it from us folks, hope you enjoyed our coverage. Goodnight!

Here's what Steve Smith had to say in the post-match PC

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With 25 minutes to go for the toss, you can read the match preview here. And there's more while Williamson urged positivity, Steve Smith brushed aside all concerns that the pay dispute between the board and the players will have any effect on their Champions Trophy campaign.

Hello and welcome to the live blog of the Champions Trophy 2017 Group A game between Australia and New Zealand at Edgbaston. While New Zealand have the advantage of playing a few recent games in this format, a majority of Australia's players will be back to this format after close to four months. The conditions and format take some time to adjust to but the team has settled in under the leadership of Steve Smith. The availability of a good, strong pace attack could be Australia's biggest strength. A day before the game, Steve Smith ruled out the possibility of playing all of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Josh Hazlewood. But any combination of the four available will make the attack threatening.

New Zealand too will be faced with a problem of plenty given the options at hand. Luke Ronchi did well in the practice game against India but hasn't had much success in ODIs for a while now. But he, along with Martin Guptill, at the top would make for a formidable opening combination. Tom Latham has done more than a decent job at the top of the order and it will be a tough call to pick either him or Ronchi. The off-colour Corey Anderson too makes for an all-rounder conundrum but New Zealand's biggest worry would be getting to the massive scores that are now the norm in ODIs. Much will depend on the solidity of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor in the middle order. Both men have been in good form and will be burdened with the task of carrying the batting for as long as possible.

That both teams have a problem with picking the right combination is an open secret, and therefore it all the more imperative that the first punt goes right. In a tournament that doesn't allow much breathing space, chopping and changing can become problematic. And so a lot hinges on the decisions made even before the toss for which a lot of head-wracking is bound to be done.

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