New Zealand send SA in to bat

Wellington, New Zealand – New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has won the toss and chosen to bowl in the opening Twenty20 international against South Africa on Friday.

Fast bowler Doug Bracewell and opener Martin Guptill return to the New Zealand line-up, restoring them to full strength.

The New Zealand line-up includes spinners Ronnie Hira, Nathan McCullum, Kane Williamson and Guptill, reflecting their intention to test the South African batsmen on slower pitches.

"We've stacked our bowling attack with spinners and hopefully that will play dividends," McCullum said.

South Africa named the same team that beat Canterbury province in a warm-up match on Wednesday and captain AB de Villiers said he was happy to bat.

De Villiers said: “To be honest, I was still deciding what I was going to do while I was standing here. We're pretty happy to bat on what looks like a good wicket."

New Zealand are coming off a whitewash of Zimbabwe, having won the Test, all three one-dayers and both Twenty20 games.

TEAMS

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (captain), Martin Guptill, Rob Nicol, Kane Williamson, James Franklin, Colin de Grandhomme, Nathan McCullum, Doug Bracewell, Kyle Mills, Ronnie Hira, Tim Southee.

South Africa: A.B.de Villiers (captain), Richard Levi, Hashim Amla, Colin Ingram, J.P. Duminy, Justin Ontong, Albie Morkel, Johan Botha, Rusty Theron, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Umpires: Gary Baxter and Barry Frost, New Zealand.

TV Umpire: Chris Gaffaney, New Zealand. Match referee: Roshan Mahanama, Sri Lanka. – Sapa-AP