The opening match of the T20 World Cup’s Super Eight stage between New Zealand and Pakistan in Colombo has been abandoned without a ball bowled because of rain.

Spectators arriving at the R Premadasa Stadium found the field under cover after precipitation in the afternoon, but conditions improved enough for a toss to be staged on time, with Pakistan winning and choosing to bat.

However the rain set in prior to the start of play and umpires called off the game just over two hours after its scheduled start time, with both sides taking a point for a no result.

Rain blighted fixtures held in the Sri Lankan capital during October’s Women’s World Cup, held during the island’s monsoon season, with seven of 11 matches held there affected by the weather.

This is only the second abandoned match of this tournament, after Ireland’s game with Zimbabwe in Pallekele was called off on Tuesday.

Both New Zealand and Pakistan finished second in the group stage, winning three fixtures and losing against their pool winners, South Africa and India respectively.

The tournament resumes on Sunday with England playing Sri Lanka in Pallekele (09:30 GMT) before India face South Africa in Ahmedabad (13:30 GMT).

Pakistan will hope for better weather when they face England on Tuesday, while New Zealand will resume their campaign on Wednesday against Sri Lanka in Colombo (both matches 13:30 GMT).