Cricket: Black Caps batting first

Martin Guptill. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand will bat first in Napier today as they seek to sweep the three-match one-day cricket series against Zimbabwe.

LIVE SCORING

Brendon McCullum won his first toss of the series and elected to bat - news which would've greeted been with a sigh of relief from the McLean Park crowd.

The Black Caps have batted first in both of the first two games of the series, racking up big totals and wins in Dunedin and Whangarei against below-par opposition.

New Zealand have made thee changes to the side which romped to a 141-run at Cobham Oval on Monday. Dean Brownlie, who suffered a broken finger while fielding in that game, is replaced by Nathan McCullum, while Auckland left-arm seamer Michael Bates is making his international debut.

Doug Bracewell also comes back into the side, with Tim Southee and Kyle Mills missing out.

The sun is shining in Napier with play set to start at 2pm.

TEAMS:

New Zealand: (from) Brendon McCullum (c), Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, Nathan McCullum, Andrew Ellis, Jacob Oram, Doug Bracewell, Tarun Nethula, Tim Southee, Michael Bates. 12th man: Kyle Mills.

Zimbabwe: (from) Brendan Taylor (c), Tino Mawoyo, Hamilton Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Tatenda Taibu, Malcolm Waller, Regis Chakabva, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Ray Price, Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori. 12th man: Keegan Meth.