Rain washes away third ODI

Martin Guptill made a promising start in the third ODI against Sri Lanka at Eden Park. Photo / Getty

Martin Guptill's diligence paid off with an innings of 66 from 78 balls as part of New Zealand's 145 for three in 28.5 overs in the abandoned third one-day international against Sri Lanka.

Regular rain saw the match fail to get into a second innings.

An hour and a half before the start Guptill was busy in the practice nets adjacent to Sandringham Rd. The throwdowns came relentlessly from coach Mike Hesson (around the wicket) and batting mentor Craig McMillan (over the wicket) as he sought to arrest his blip in international form.

Guptill has also been working with batting great Martin Crowe to perfect his technique and mental tenacity.

However, the opener hasn't had a higher score in 10 ODI innings since his 111 at the same venue a year ago.

Such problems haven't dogged him domestically. He's scored two centuries and a 55 in his last four Ford Trophy innings.

However, like Hamish Rutherford in the test format, the selectors have persevered. Guptill has the added security of being in the World Cup squad. That guarantees him a maximum of six further ODI innings and a couple of warm-ups before the tournament start.

It's hoped persistence will eventually deliver Guptill more 2013 Southampton moments of zen, like when he made New Zealand's highest one-day score - 189 not out - against England, an innings in which his bat behaved like a magic wand.

Unfortunately the weather did its best to disrupt his rhythm, in addition to the efforts of the Sri Lankan bowlers who had him chopping two French cuts and a return chip in the early stanzas.

Guptill's resurrection may have been helped, in a peculiar way, by the premature dismissal of Brendon McCullum for 28 off 22 balls. It meant he was not subject to peer pressure to take advantage of the short boundaries like his skipper.

McCullum fell to a steepling catch from Nuwan Kulasekara off Angelo Mathews, much to the chagrin of dozens of orange T-shirted fans looking to benefit with one-handed catches from the latest Tui beer promotion. They swarmed to prime posts 20m beyond long-on and long-off. Mathews also bowled Tom Latham for 42 and had Ross Taylor lbw for three to finish with three for 21 from 6.5 overs.

The groundsmen end up playing the biggest cameos like a land-lubbing crew of America's Cup sailors wrestling the scrim and plastic covers into position as misty rain swept in.

The seven-match series remains level at 1-1.