Cricket: Rain washes out opening T20 international between Blackcaps, Pakistan

Fans duck for cover in Rawalpindi.
Fans duck for cover in Rawalpindi. Photo credit: Getty Images

The first Twenty20 International between the Blackcaps and Pakistan has been ruled a no contest, after rain spoiled the day at Rawalpindi.

The forecast looked bleak all day, with the wet weather delaying the toss by 30 minutes.

New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell eventually won the coin flip and elected to bat, before another deluge arrived to prevent the players from taking the field and brought the covers back out.

The players leave the pitch.
The players leave the pitch. Photo credit: Getty Images

A small window of dry weather at about 10pm local time added a sliver of hope for some cricket, with a five-over match being declared, but there was only enough time for openers Tim Robinson and Tim Seifert to face a couple of deliveries, before the heavens opened yet again to put paid to any further chance of cricket with the score at 2/1.

Debutant Robinson was elevated to open the batting alongside Seifert, nicking a pair of leg byes, before Shaheen Shah Afridi cleaned up his stumps with a superb inswinger in what would be the only two balls of the day.

The teams will remain at Rawalpindi for the second of the five-match series, scheduled for Sunday morning (NZ time).