After two matches blessed with fair weather in Mount Maunganui, the third ODI in Hamilton began under overcast skies, and in the 31st over of the game the drizzle had got heavy enough to take the players off. They never came back on. South Africa had been well placed in challenging conditions, though, because Quinton de Kock ended a run of five poor scores with a brisk half-century.
Both teams had made changes for the dead rubber. Despite needing to sweep the series 3-0 to stay the No. 1 ranked team in ODIs, South Africa rested Dale Steyn, while Imran Tahir and Faf du Plessis were also given a break because of niggles. New Zealand benched Daniel Vettori and Trent Boult, as they continued to search for a settled combination in their build-up to the 2015 World Cup.
Both teams had made changes for the dead rubber. Despite needing to sweep the series 3-0 to stay the No. 1 ranked team in ODIs, South Africa rested Dale Steyn, while Imran Tahir and Faf du Plessis were also given a break because of niggles. New Zealand benched Daniel Vettori and Trent Boult, as they continued to search for a settled combination in their build-up to the 2015 World Cup.