For the visitors, seamer Binura Fernando plays his first T20I since March, which means Asitha Fernando gets a long overdue break. Slingers Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara round out the pace attack. Sri Lanka have also stumped for a 6-5 combination with Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga forming a five-strong bowling attack.

A late bowling resurgence led by Jacob Duffy secured a narrow eight-run victory for New Zealand against Sri Lanka. Duffy's three wickets in four balls changed the game as Sri Lanka, chasing 173, collapsed from 121-0 to 164-6.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bowl first in the first T20I being played at Mount Maunganui. New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell,

New Zealand managed to score 172 runs in the first T20I against Sri Lanka, thanks to a remarkable recovery by Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell. The match took place at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on.

It will be a test for Sri Lanka, whose T20 success this year has largely come at home, against a New Zealand team without several regulars

The new-look Black Caps have scored an unlikely win over Sri Lanka in the first T20 international in Mount Maunganui.

The Black Caps have bested Sri Lanka by eight runs in the first T20 in Mount Maunganui. Sri Lanka elected to bowl when they won the toss. The Black Caps put forward more of a full-strength team for this domestic showpiece, starting Saturday at Mt Maunganui's Bay Oval. The second encounter is scheduled for the same venue on Monday.