SL vs NZ 3rd T20I: New Zealand call up Worcestershire opener as Guptil replacement

New Zealand has found a replacement for its injured team member Martin Guptil for the 3rd and the final T20I against Sri Lanka. The Black Caps opener Hamish Rutherford has been called in for the third T2OI which is scheduled to be played at Pallekele on Friday.

After an injury crisis in the 2nd T20I, with Ross Taylor, Martin Guptil, Tom Bruce and Lockie Ferguson got injured, the team 14-member squad was reduced to 10.

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Rutherford fill in as a replacement for Guptil

After Martin Guptil was unable to play in the second T20I because of a straining stomach muscle, he was declared unfit to play in the final T20I of their Sri Lanka tour. Now the eleventh member has been called in this morning, in the form of Hamish Rutherford.

Hamish Rutherford is an opening batsman who has played 6 T20I games in which he has scored 151 runs with a strike rate of 145.19.

Guptil to return home for further assessment

Martin Guptil will be leaving for New Zealand for further assessment of his stomach condition as couldn’t recover from it sooner whereas Otago and Worcestershire opener Rutherford have been called up to join the squad as a cover, all across from England where they are currently playing T20 Blast.

New Zealand coach Gary Stead earlier confirmed that Rutherford would join the squad as a cover for Bruce. He has come to Sri Lanka on Thursday to play the final T20I against Sri Lanka.

Tom Bruce’s injury needed some rest and according to him it wasn’t very serious, so will have to see if he makes a comeback for the third T20I.

Meanwhile, Ross Taylor has been declared fit and will be available for the third and the final T20I at Pallekele.