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New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first in the first of two Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on Saturday.

The tourists handed young wicketkeeper-batsman Mitchell Hay, 24, his international debut. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson was ruled out due to calf stiffness.

“There’s a lot of white-ball cricket coming up and we need to build on that,” Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner said.

“Sri Lanka are very good at home and they showed that recently against the West Indies… It will be a tough series and challenging conditions.”

Under clear skies after rain washed out Friday’s training, Sri Lanka opted for a spin-heavy attack.

Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana will lead the bowling attack along with two seamers.

“We would have batted first too,” said Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka.

“We have been very good in recent months. But that is in the past,” he added.

“We would like to back our spinners. We believe the wicket will come next and we will depend on them.”

Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Nuwan Alsohara, Matheesha Pathirana.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Mitchell Hay (wk), Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Ish Sodhi, Will Young.

Referees: Lyndon Hannibal (SRI) and Raveendra Wimalasiri (SRI)

TV referee: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI)

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

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