New Zealand’s hopes of leveling the T20 series against India with a win in the final match on Tuesday suffered a blow when captain Kane Williamson pulled out of the match for a medical. Tim Southee will captain the team for the third T20 in Napier on Tuesday, with Auckland batsman Mark Chapman joining the squad in place of Williamson, New Zealand Cricket said.
Coach Gary Stead gave no details on Williamson’s appointment but said it was not related to the long-term elbow problems that have plagued the Black Caps skipper. “It’s something they’ve been trying to book for a while,” Stead said Monday. “Now there’s an opportunity and we decided to get Kane to take it. India beat the hosts by 65 runs in the second T20 at Mount Maunganui on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after losing the opening match in Wellington. Williamson will rejoin the team in Auckland on Wednesday ahead of the ODI series opener at Eden Park on Friday.
