Free entry to today's Twenty20 encounter

Come one, come all, is the message from Northland Cricket before today's rescheduled Twenty20 match at Cobham Oval.

Whangarei failed to live up to its winterless north reputation and as a result more Northlanders are being given the chance to pack out Cobham Oval, and experience top-class cricket, with today's match starting at 2pm.

Northland Cricket chief executive Gary Bell has laid the challenge to Whangarei's public by inviting everyone along to enjoy a game of cricket on him.

"Come and turn up," said Bell.

"Get a chance to watch international cricketers for free.

"It's a real bonus for Whangarei and Northland, really."

Bell said it was going to be a challenge to accommodate what would, hopefully, be a large crowd.

"Hopefully, it'll be made easier by the fact that it's free entry," said Bell.

"We'll be allowing people to come sit in corporate areas, free of charge.

"Both teams are very keen to have the match practice, so it's a good decision from that perspective to reschedule."

Play got under way on time yesterday but only 9.1 overs were completed before the heavens opened, with New Zealand sitting at 70 for one.

After the nearly hour-long stoppage, it was announced that the game had been abandoned and the teams would play their warm-up matches back-to-back.

Even though the weather was always going to be questionable, an array of red, white and blue brollies came out to shield the crowd of about 1000.

With the New Zealand XI batting first, the English were left to deal with the local hecklers who gave England's Luke Wright an early ribbing after he misfielded a ball in the outfield in front of a densely populated area of supporters.

Early big hitting from 23-year-old debutant Hamish Rutherford [21 off 15 balls] gave the keen supporters something to look out for as he banged a six into the hoardings.