Pietersen's comeback washed out as New Zealand take series

Kevin Pietersen sits in his pads with coach Ashley Giles as the game is abandoned during the 2nd T20 between England and New Zealand

Kevin Pietersen‘s return to England duty saw him fail to take any part in a washed-out Twenty20 match at The Oval on Thursday that gave New Zealand a 1-0 series win.

Only two balls had been bowled, with England two for one, when rain stopped play after Michael Lumb was caught at second slip by New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum off left-arm quick Mitchell McClenaghan.

Rain prevented all further attempts at a re-start, with officials seeing plans for a six-overs-per-side match starting at 9.03pm local time (2003GMT) thwarted by a fresh downpour.

The no-result gave New Zealand the two-match series 1-0 after their five-run win at The Oval on Tuesday.

England made two changes from the side that lost the first of this two-match series by five runs at the same ground on Tuesday.

Star batsman Pietersen was included in an England side for the first time following a knee injury that forced his early exit from the tour of New Zealand in March.

The former England captain was sidelined from all cricket until making a superb unbeaten 177 for Surrey in a County Championship match last weekend.

South Africa-born Pietersen, 33 on Thursday, replaced stand-in captain Eoin Morgan, who led England on Tuesday in the absence of the rested Stuart Broad, after the former Ireland international was ruled out with a right hand injury.

Kent off-spinner James Tredwell captained England for the first time but had still to lead the side in the field after losing the toss.

Meanwhile, left-arm spinner Danny Briggs, a key member of English domestic Twenty20 champions Hampshire’s side, replaced seamer Chris Woakes, whose one over on Tuesday cost 19 runs.