Hamilton: India will look to seal the One-day International series when they meet New Zealand in the third match at Seddon Park on Tuesday, though the weather threatens to intervene once again in a contest already disrupted twice.
Forecasters have placed Hamilton under a heavy rain watch from 3 am local time on Tuesday until 1 am on Wednesday, with precipitation probability forecast at 100 per cent for Tuesday — 99 per cent by day and 90 per cent at night. Hourly projections place the probability of rain at 71 to 89 per cent between 7 am and 2 pm, an hour before the scheduled start, easing to 73 per cent at 3 pm before climbing to about 80 per cent through the evening. It falls to 49 per cent at 8 pm but rises to 70 per cent at 9 pm, 76 per cent at 10 pm and 67 per cent at 11 pm, pointing to a delayed start and the likelihood of repeated stoppages.
India, leading 2-0, were forced to train indoors on Monday after persistent rain at Seddon Park cut short their outdoor session. New Zealand completed a full morning practice before the weather closed in. The visitors had also lost an outdoor session in Wellington ahead of the second match.
India won the opener in Auckland by five wickets, reaching a revised target of 143 in 22.2 overs. In Wellington, reduced to 113 for seven while chasing 135, they were four runs ahead when rain ended play and won by four runs under the DLS method.
An inexperienced pace attack has shaped both wins. Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar have claimed a Player of the Match award each, while Arshdeep Singh, largely a T20 specialist, has proved useful with the new ball and at the death. Mohammed Siraj is yet to feature. Seam-friendly conditions, expected again on a pitch kept under cover because of the rain, have suited the bowlers.
New Zealand, who batted first in both games, will hope to win the toss and keep the series alive. India are pursuing a third away series victory over them, having gone down 3-0 in February 2020 and 1-0 in November-December 2022, when two matches were washed out. The tourists also took the preceding T20 series 3-2.
A worry for the visitors has been wickets falling in clusters, evident in both matches. Captain Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper K L Rahul leave after this game to prepare for the two-Test series beginning in Wellington on November 19. If play is possible, India will push for the win that settles the series; New Zealand need a victory to stay in it.
(With inputs from media reports)