Persistent rain forced the abandonment of the second ODI between England and New Zealand without a ball being bowled in Northampton on Wednesday.

The White Ferns won a delayed toss and chose to bowl first under gloomy skies in Northampton after intermittent showers forced the scheduled start of play to be pushed back from 1pm to 4pm local time, with the match reduced to 32 overs per side. But, shortly after the toss, the rain set in and play was abandoned just after 4.40pm.

England, who lead the three-match series 1-0, had recalled Sophie Ecclestone after she sat out the one-wicket thriller in Durham on Sunday. She was set to play alongside fellow left-arm spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, the 18-year-old who made her international debut in that game, taking two wickets and sharing an unbroken 10th-wicket stand with Charlie Dean to secure victory.

Lauren Filer made way in one of two changes to the starting XI named by England. As expected, allrounder Alice Capsey was due to return following her recovery from illness, replacing Jodi Grewcock, who also made her debut in the previous game. New Zealand, meanwhile, named an unchanged side.

The teams will play the final match of the series in Cardiff on Saturday before contesting three T20Is.