Rain prevents play in Coffs Harbour BBL

Coffs Harbour's first BBL clash since 2020 (pic) was washed out without a ball being bowled. (AAP)

The rain-hit BBL match between the ladder leading Sydney Sixers and the last placed Melbourne Renegades in Coffs Harbour on Saturday has been abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The decision was made around 8.55pm about 40 minutes before the final time a five over game could have started.

The city on the NSW north coast was hit by around 25mm of rain earlier on Saturday.

Stephen O'Keefe has been recalled to the Sixers side for the Big Bash contest with the Renegades. (AAP)

While the bat flip was conducted with the Sixers winning the toss and opting to bowl first, rain started to fall again soon after.

Although it stopped a couple of times, another shower and the problem of significant surface water around the boundaries prompted the umpires to call the game off.

Both teams take 1.5 points, putting the Sixers that margin clear of the second-placed Perth Scorchers, while the Renegades remain in bottom spot.

The Renegades' next game is a Melbourne derby against the Stars on Monday at the MCG and the Sixers play the following day against Brisbane Heat on the Gold Coast.