Cricket: Black Caps chopper in for tonight's match

Earlier this week Ross Taylor was in hospital for gastroenteritis, now he's travelled to New Zealand's latest one-day international against Sri Lanka by helicopter. Photo / Ross Taylor

Earlier this week Ross Taylor was in hospital for gastroenteritis, now he's travelled to New Zealand's latest one-day international against Sri Lanka by helicopter.

It's all part of touring Sri Lanka but the biggest thing the New Zealand cricket captain wants is a fine day followed by victory.

The Black Caps' tour of Sri Lanka has been severely hampered by rain and they might have hoped a change of venue would have ushered in better weather but the forecast for tonight's (NZT) fourth one-dayer in Hambantota is for showers.

New Zealand travelled to the southern town by helicopter and Taylor said it wasn't an entirely comfortable journey for some of the touring party.

"Spirits are high after the helicopter ride," he said. "There were a few nervous boys in the camp but it's obviously good to get here nice and safely and the weather looks good so far."

New Zealand might not have won a game on tour so far but they have played some decent cricket at times. They posted 250 for six (50 overs) - their highest one-day total in Sri Lanka - and followed it up with 188-6 (33 overs) but were undone by the inclement weather as well as some poor bowling.

Winning the toss would help, as would a full 50-over match to help arrest a dreadful run of nine defeats in their last 10 one-day internationals.

"[Tonight] is another opportunity to change that," Taylor said. "You make your own luck but we haven't had a lot of luck go our way [so far on tour]. Hopefully we can change that.

"It starts with whatever we have to do. Whether we bat or bowl first we have to do it well. Hopefully we can do whatever it takes to win the game.

"It's a pretty easy equation. Two-nil down in a five-match series with two games to go, we have to win the next one. We will be doing everything in our powers to do that."

Their hopes have improved with news Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan has a back injury and will miss the final two one-dayers.

Dilshan was in pain in the last match, although it didn't seem to impair him too much as he slammed an unbeaten 102 in helping Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket win under the Duckworth/Lewis method.