New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming had to admit only foul autumnal weather in Wellington stopped his side losing the second Test against Australia. He said: "We won't fudge the point that we were once again outplayed and staring down the barrel.
"But sometimes you need opportunities like this to move forward. There's still a chance to draw the series and that's what you cling on to."
Australia's Ricky Ponting said: "The weather hasn't been kind to us."
Play was abandoned shortly before the scheduled tea break on the fifth and final day because of persistent rain and thick fog that had plagued the match from the outset.
Rain had prevented any play whatsoever on the first day.
 Groundstaff toiled in vain |
Fleming's side had been forced to follow-on and were reeling at 48-3, needing another 278 runs to avoid an innings defeat, when the storms rolled in yet again.
"It got us out of jail so we're not disappointed with the weather," said the Kiwi skipper.
"But we've clearly got a lot of work to do. We're being put under a lot of pressure and we're not responding."
Ponting added: "It's a disappointing way for the Test match to end."
"We've played some really good cricket during this game and the weather just hasn't allowed us long enough to win it."
"It's been a pretty disappointing week all round.
"If we had got a lot of overs in today we should have been able to win the game."
MMIX
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