Cricket: NZ lose both openers

New Zealand have lost both openers on the first morning of the Boxing Day test.

Hamish Rutherford was the first to fall, being dismissed for 18 as his return to the international scene got off to a rocky start.

Tom Latham, coming off an excellent series against Pakistan, lasted only a little longer before he was sent back to the pavilion for 27.

After being sent in by Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, the Black Caps reached 29-0 in the first hour at a sold out Hagley Oval, but Rutherford fell shortly after the drinks break.

The opener was guilty of poor shot selection as he was clean bowled by Suranga Lakmal, with the delivery doing little but still managing to knock back Rutherford's off stump.

Latham fell six overs later, with his leading edge off Shaminda Eranga finding debutant Tharindu Kaushal in the covers.

Kane Williamson made a fast start after coming to the crease, racing to a 30 from 28 balls, while Ross Taylor (2no) joined him at the other end as New Zealand advanced to 79-2.

Earlier, there were bizarre scenes in the opening two overs as both Lakmal and Eranga slipped at the popping crease before delivering their first ball, causing a short delay as groundsmen worked on the problematic area.

The test is the first in Christchurch since 2006 and the city's first international of any sort since the February 2011 earthquake. It is also the sixth Boxing Day test to be held in New Zealand and the first in 11 years.

If the Black Caps manage to achieve a positive result in the two-test series, it will be the sixth successive series which they have won or drawn. Brendon McCullum, meanwhile, needs 31 runs to reach 1000 for the calendar year.

Neil Wagner was chosen ahead of Doug Bracewell for the third pace bowling spot, with Bracewell and Dean Brownlie to join up with their provinces for Ford Trophy action.

New Zealand:
Brendon McCullum (captain), Hamish Rutherford, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, BJ Watling, Jimmy Neesham, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult

Sri Lanka:
Angelo Mathews (captain), Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella, Prasanna Jayawardene, Tharindu Kaushal, Dhammika Prasad, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal

- NZ Herald

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