Cricket: Frustration for NZ, relief for Vettori

7.30am - By MARK GEENTY

MANCHESTER - New Zealand's cricket team walked away from a sodden Old Trafford in frustration today but there was one player sporting a wide grin.

The tourists picked up three points from their NatWest series opener against England after a wintry blast hit Manchester and ensured the covers never left the pitch in the day-night match which was declared a washout at 6pm (local time).

For spinner Daniel Vettori, the lack of any action bought him an extra two days in his recovery from a hamstring injury, and he is now certain to play in the second match against the West Indies in Birmingham on Saturday night (NZ time).

"It's huge, it's a complete rest day for me so it all helps. The medical team will be a lot happier with me playing Saturday than today," Vettori told NZPA.

"The slippery outfield might have come into the equation, but it's good to get out of here with no damage done to myself or the team.

"The leg's pretty good, I tested it a little bit yesterday and got through that all right. The bowling's no problem, but fielding, the speed off the mark is a little bit down."

New Zealand had fancied their chances of beating England before an expected sellout 18,000-strong crowd here .

England were without standout allrounder Andrew Flintoff, who will miss the series with a foot injury, while opening batsman Marcus Trescothick was only just cleared to play after spraining his ankle on Monday.

The hosts appeared a less formidable one-day unit than test side.

"We're obviously pretty confident with our one-day form, and in terms of experience we've got it up on them," Vettori said.

"We're confident of winning this tournament and it would have been nice to get out and play, but we'll take the points."

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming would not say whether Vettori would have played, saying they never had to make the decision because the match never looked likely to start.

Vettori was bracketed with Chris Harris, who may now have an anxious wait to make an appearance in the tournament as he sits poised on 199 one-day wickets.

The injury has dogged Vettori since the second test at Headingley three weeks ago when he dived in the outfield and suffered a grade two tear of the left hamstring.

"It's been boring more than anything. I'm not used to sitting on the sidelines, it's a long time since I've done it. I haven't really enjoyed it but I'm just glad I stayed on tour.

"They had to sit down and make a decision if I was going to stay. I'm not irreplaceable but there isn't really anyone stepping up in the spin department.

"In the one-day game with my experience they wanted me to stay."

Vettori is one of six players in the New Zealand squad to have made 100 one-day international appearances, taking 114 wickets from 131 matches at an average of 37.55 and economy rate of 4.37.

His inclusion against Brian Lara's West Indies on Saturday means New Zealand will front with a full strength side, with Harris, Ian Butler, Michael Papps and Gareth Hopkins the probable unlucky ones.

- NZPA