Top-order batsman Hamish Rutherford has been rushed into the Blackcaps squad for their final T20 outing against Sri Lanka in Kandy on Saturday morning (NZ time).
The New Zealand cricket side clinched the three-match limited-overs series with victory in game two on Wednesday morning, but suffered a crippling injury toll in the process, losing opener Martin Guptill for the third encounter.
Big-hitting Tom Bruce, who replaced Ross Taylor (hip flexor) also tweaked a knee and is questionable, although Taylor has been cleared to return.
"Ross could have played if we desperately needed him to, but we wanted to take the sensible measure of not putting him undue pressure, when we didn't need to," said coach Gary Stead.
He confirmed Rutherford was also being flown in from England, where he had been playing county cricket.
"There are a few reasons for that," said Stead. "One is he's a great player and has been in really good form over the last few years with the Otago Voltz.
"The second is he's in England playing at the moment, so it's a quick trip here to have him as a chance to play in the decider."
Rutherford has played several times for New Zealand, but primarily in tests, where he scored 171 on debut against England in 2013. The son of former Blackcaps captain Ken Rutherford has played seven T20 internationals, averaging 25.16 runs.
If Bruce doesn't recover, Rutherford is a likely starter for the match against Sri Lanka.
After battling back to square the test series, Stead paid tribute to his players for pulling off their second-highest T20 run chase the opening game and then seal overal victory with a second victory.
'I thought Colin de Grandhomme and Tom Bruce, in that partnership they put together, were brilliant," he said.
"I thought Tim Southee as well - in both games, as captain and opening bowler - has done exceptionally well."
Meanwhile, the two Sri Lankan fielders that collided during the run chase on Thursday will likely miss the third meeting, both with knee injuries.
Kusal Mendis and Shehan Jayasuriya both scrambled to catch Mitch Santner's final-over six, but clashed knees and dropped the ball.
Newshub.
