Play was abandoned without a ball being bowled on the second day of the State Championship match between Wellington and Auckland at the Basin Reserve today, increasing the frustration of home and visiting players over a summer ruled by rain.

The Wellington players have among them only a handful of innings at any level this season. Club cricket which began on Labour Weekend has been oppressed by bad weather and there are, in the Wellington side, players who have stood at the crease fewer than half a dozen times since the season opened.

Wellington's preparation for the Championship in which they will defend New Zealand's first-class trophy has been largely conducted indoors. The limitations of that preparation were evident in their modest batting performances in the first innings of their match in Rangiora and here yesterday when they were out for 238 after winning the toss.

Auckland shared their frustration today when persistent overnight rain, then continued passing showers first delayed, then prevented, the start of play. Rain began to fall late on the first day, near the end of Wellington's first innings in which Richard Jones and Grant Donaldson's innings of 52 were the largest contributions.

It continued as Auckland reached 3-0 in only two overs before stumps at 6pm.

The rain then fell unabated throughout the night and through the early morning, wrecking any hope that the second day would begin on time at 10.30am. Though conditions brightened about half an hour after the scheduled start, the effects of the rain could be seen in the deep pools of water still lying on the covers and in the sodden nature of the outfield.

Ground staff worked earnestly between showers, even during showers, to prepare the field for play but the covers were never lifted on this drab and humid Wellington Monday.

There were periods when the sky cleared and a brief watery sunshine brightened the day. But, just as hopes rose of a beginning some time in the second session, the heavy clouds returned and with them a weak but dampening drizzle.

Play was finally abandoned for the day at 3.50pm when umpires Steve Dunne and Dave Quested decided the time remaining in the day was insufficient to allow the field to be prepared for play. They estimated it would take at least two hours to get the outfield, the pitch and surrounds up to standard. And then the rain set in again, anyway, and ended any argument on the wisdom of that decision.

And so Wellington's players go even longer without cricket, spend another day in the pavilion watching the falling rain. And melting with the continued drizzle is the prospect of a result in this match which was not too far advanced after the first day.

Auckland already have points for a win in their first round match against Central Districts so their incentive to participate in any effort to create a result is less than Wellington's, who drew their opening game.

Rain is forecast in Wellington over the next two days.

© CricInfo