Tim Southee is in doubt for New Zealand's Twenty20 World Cup cricket opener on Friday after being admitted to hospital in Colombo.

The quick bowler missed New Zealand's nine-run loss to South Africa yesterday, in their final warm-up match, due to a stomach bug.

Southee remained in Colombo as his team-mates made the three-hour road trip to Kandy and was admitted to hospital to undergo rehydration.

The team's doctor examined Southee again this morning and determined that he'd made little improvement. He was given medication to ease his symptoms, and was expected to spend the night in hospital. Team management hoped he would rejoin the team at their base in Kandy tomorrow.

Batsman Rob Nicol was the latest New Zealand player to be hit by a stomach bug, and was also staying behind in Colombo tonight but wouldn't require hospital treatment at this stage.

Spinner Daniel Vettori was also rested from yesterday's match for the same reason, but was eating again by last night and will be fit for the Black Caps' tournament-opener against Bangladesh.

Southee and Vettori had been eating at the team hotel in Colombo, when it's thought they had something which didn't agree with them. James Franklin dined with them too and suffered no illness.

Beyond Southee, the rest of the team will definitely all be fit for selection against Bangladesh.

Kyle Mills has a cold, to go with the bumps and bruises he suffered while colliding with Brendon McCullum in Chennai last week. It was that, as much as any residual soreness from their collision, which kept him out of the South African warm-up match.

McCullum will be fit to keep wickets, after ceding the gloves to BJ Watling yesterday, while allrounder Jacob Oram is another who didn't play against the Proteas - but isn't in a particularly bad way.

The Black Caps are scheduled to train under lights at the Pallekele International Stadium, near Kandy, tonight. Although, given the relative health of everyone concerned, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has hinted that today might be better utilised as simply a travel day. New Zealand's other group match is against Pakistan in Pallekele on Sunday.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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