Blow to NZ: All-rounder out of SL T20I due to injury

New Zealand have won the third ODI against Sri Lanka and have won the series 3-0 but the hosts have received a big blow ahead of the one-off T20I. All-rounder James Neesham who is performing well in the ODI series has been ruled out of the T20I  against Sri Lanka due to a hamstring injury.

Neesham to miss the one-off T20I

New Zealand physio Vijay Vallabh threw light on Neesham’s injury. He said that the New Zealand all-rounder felt some tightness in his right hamstring during the bowling innings and left the field for treatment.

He noted that he’s iced and compressed the injury and will be reassessed in a couple of days.

Neesham made a comeback in international cricket through the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka. He played a crucial role in New Zealand’s win as he scored a quick-fire fifty in the second game and produced a 13-ball 47 in the opening game in which he hit Thisara Perera for five sixes in one over.

The all-rounder was pretty good with the ball as well as he claimed six wickets in three games for the Black Caps.

Doug Bracewell to replace Neesham

The New Zealand team management has roped in pace bowler Dough Bracewell as a replacement for Neesham for the T20I game against Sri Lanka.

Bracewell has featured in 17 T20Is so far and has claimed 19 wickets at an average of 22 and strike rate of 9.15.

The pace bowler’s last T20I temperance was in January 2018 against West Indies.

New Zealand’s squad against Sri Lanka

The one off T20I between New Zealand and Sri Lanka will be played on January 11th.

Also read: IND rest star pacer for AUS ODIs

New Zealand’s squad:  Tim Southee (capt), Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Dough Bracewell