10pm A game that promised so much ends up as a damp squib (quite literally). The series is not done, though. Far from it actually. New Zealand, because of today's result (or lack thereof), now cannot win it but they would love nothing more than to restore parity on December 31, while Bangladesh will have another shot at a historic series victory on Sunday.

That game is slated to take place at the Bay Oval too, and fingers crossed the weather is much better and we get a definitive result, one way or the other. Until then, this is me, Shashwat, signing off on behalf of Sudeep and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodbye and take care!

9:55pm Right, folks. That will be that. The rain has won, and the umpires have pulled the plug on this second T20I. The match has been called off, officially. For what it is worth, it is still pouring at the Bay Oval.

9:25pm Not a lot to report, again. We are slowly running out of time to get a game going, and the forecast does not look very promising either. The grass banks are also completely empty and everyone has retreated into cover. The fourth umpire is walking out but he has his umbrella up.

Meanwhile, as we wait for some news here in Mount Maunganui, there's some cricket happening in neighbouring Australia as the Melbourne Renegades look for their first BBL win of the season against the Adelaide Strikers. You can follow that game here.

8:55pm For all of you asking in the comments, if this turns into a five-over chase for Bangladesh, the target will be 46. If it is a ten-over chase, the target will be 85. We are still far away from that stage, though, with the rain still falling.

8:45pm Nothing new to report at this stage, unfortunately. We are hearing word that 10:28pm local time is the latest they can start a five-over run-chase. We will try to get confirmation of this as soon as possible. The grass banks are a lot emptier than they were half an hour ago, and that is a sign that the rain has not relented.

8:20pm The rain continues to fall. While we wait for play to resume here, there is some high-quality Test action unfolding elsewhere in the southern hemisphere. Australia are now just one wicket away from taking a 2-0 series lead - catch up on all the action here.

8:10pm The pitch and the run-ups were covered initially but now the big cover is on too, covering the square.

8:05pm The covers are firmly in place, and there are dark clouds hovering above the Bay Oval. The breeze, though, could help blowing the rain away. For now, it is a waiting game...

Kawsar: "Is Mitchell struggling or Bangladesh bowling well? Apparently he is been uncharacteristically quiet today" -- A bit of both, actually. He has not been able to get into his usual rhythm, and Bangladesh have not given him any freebies to rediscover his mojo either

8:01pm Right. The rain has gotten heavier and the umpires have decided to take the players off. NZ might not mind this break, given how both of these batters have struggled so far

END OF OVER:
11 | 5 Runs | NZ: 72/2 | RR: 6.54

  • Glenn Phillips9 (14b)
  • Daryl Mitchell18 (24b)
  • Rishad Hossain3-0-10-0
  • Mustafizur Rahman2-0-16-0
10.6
1
Rishad Hossain to Phillips, 1 run, full just outside off. Phillips gets forward and jabs it out to deep cover point
10.5
1
Rishad Hossain to Mitchell, 1 run, full on middle and off. Mitchell advances and smashes it back past the bowler. Sarkar reads it well running to his left from long on and keeps it to one

Mitchell 17 off 23 now

10.4
0
Rishad Hossain to Mitchell, no run, flighted up a touch on a length outside off. Mitchell wafts at it and jams it off the inside edge into his pads
10.3
1
Rishad Hossain to Phillips, 1 run, full outside off. Phillips plants his front foot and drills it to extra cover
10.2
0
Rishad Hossain to Phillips, no run, fullish just outside off. Skids through as Phillips chops it into the off side
10.1
2
Rishad Hossain to Phillips, 2 runs, full outside off. Phillips comes forward and pushes it past backward point for a couple of runs

Rishad, who has given away only five runs in two overs, will bowl his third on the trot

Bangladesh have done brilliantly to keep the scoring rate in check, despite Seifert blazing away to a 23-ball 43. Mitchell is really struggling out there, and this drinks break might just give him some time to recalibrate his approach

END OF OVER:
10 | 4 Runs | NZ: 67/2 | RR: 6.70

  • Glenn Phillips5 (10b)
  • Daryl Mitchell17 (22b)
  • Mustafizur Rahman2-0-16-0
  • Rishad Hossain2-0-5-0
9.6
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Phillips, 1 run, hard length just outside off. Phillips hangs back and bunts it just past the bowler
9.5
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Mitchell, 1 run, did that carry?! Slower ball that lands in the slot outside off. Mitchell shanks his attempted lofted stroke and long on comes haring in. Dives forward and it seems really close on whether it carried. Did not catch it, so immaterial in the end
9.4
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Phillips, 1 run, full on off stump. Phillips is caught on the crease and pokes it towards mid off for a single

Umbrellas going up on the grass banks again, and the drizzle seems to have returned. The umpires are okay to continue for now, even as Mitchell and Phillips have a long chat in the middle of the pitch. Mitchell, clearly, wants to go off but he does not get his wish because the rain has stopped. Here we go again!

9.3
0
Mustafizur Rahman to Phillips, no run, hard length on middle and off. Phillips hops up onto his toes and prods it back to the bowler
9.2
0
Mustafizur Rahman to Phillips, no run, fullish on off stump. Phillips presses half forward and taps it towards extra cover
9.1
1
Mustafizur Rahman to Mitchell, 1 run, just lands in front! Full and slanted across the batter outside off. Mitchell has a wild slog across the line and slices it horribly. Deep cover point runs in, puts in the dive but cannot quite get there. Afif might have been a little late in coming in off the fence

The Fizz is back for his second

END OF OVER:
9 | 2 Runs | NZ: 63/2 | RR: 7.00

  • Glenn Phillips3 (6b)
  • Daryl Mitchell15 (20b)
  • Rishad Hossain2-0-5-0
  • Tanzim Hasan Sakib2-0-15-1
8.6
0
Rishad Hossain to Phillips, no run, short and wide outside off. Phillips cannot beat the fielder at backward point for the second time this over
8.5
0
Rishad Hossain to Phillips, no run, length on middle and off. Skids through and rushes Phillips. He can only poke it back to the bowler in the end
8.4
0
Rishad Hossain to Phillips, no run, fizzed through shorter outside off. Phillips jabs it to backward point
8.3
1
Rishad Hossain to Mitchell, 1 run, full and slanted into the stumps. Mitchell gets into position for the reverse and makes a hash of it. Pops up off the glove but into no man's land behind square on the leg side

New Zealand 1st innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st9TL SeifertFH Allen
2nd49DJ MitchellTL Seifert
3rd14DJ MitchellGD Phillips