It is the third match of the series to be declared a no result after rain completely washed out the first match between England and New Zealand in Manchester on June 24 and severely affected the second between New Zealand and West Indies in Birmingham two days later.

New Zealand and West Indies had already qualified for Saturday's final at Lord's in London before Thursday's match at Hampshire's Rose Bowl ground was abandoned.

Play had been delayed from the scheduled 10:45 a.m. start on Thursday by the freak weather that lashed much of the southern part of Britain.

Umpires Daryl Harper and David Shepherd inspected the pitch at 11:30 a.m. and then abandoned a 12:30 a.m. inspection after heavy rain again fell on Hampshire's Rose Bowl ground.

The pair inspected the pitch again at 3 p.m. and decided a 20-overs a side game would begin at 4:32 p.m., the latest possible time a game could start.

The weather cleared enough for West Indies captain Brian Lara to win the toss and decide to bowl, though just as play was due to begin a downpour forced the groundstaff to rush back on to the field to cover the pitch.

The umpires then abandoned the game.

Stormy weather on Wednesday, described by forecasters as "a July shocker", brought down trees and power lines, cutting power to more than 100,000 homes and disrupted public transport.