Cricket: Black Caps win toss, elect to field

QUEENSTOWN - New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori won the toss and elected to bowl in the second one-day cricket international (ODI) against Sri Lanka here today.

The four match series resumes with New Zealand already 1-0 ahead after the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami saw the tour abandoned after one game.

The Black Caps' preparation has been disrupted with regular skipper Stephen Fleming missing after his partner gave birth to their first child on Thursday, while allrounder Andre Adams was ruled out with a finger injury.

Central Districts captain Jamie How is making his international debut opening the innings while Peter Fulton plays his second ODI since debuting against Bangladesh last over 13 months over.

Fast bowler Shand Bond is playing his first match in New Zealand since January 2003 after overcoming a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the recent Chappell-Hadlee series.

Nathan Astle was named as the super-sub.

For Sri Lanka star offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan and pace bowler Chaminda vaas lead the attack with Sanath Jayasuriya returning after being dropped for their tour of India earlier this month. Farveez Maharoof is Sri Lanka's super-sub.

TEAMS:

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Jamie How, Lou Vincent, Peter Fulton, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum, Kyle Mills, Shane Bond. Super-sub: Nathan Astle.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Tiilakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanag, Russel Arnold, Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando. Super-sub: Farveez Maharoof.

Umpires: Tony Hill, Darryl Hare.
Third umpire: Evans Watkin.