Dimuth Karunaratne and Dushmantha Chameera were the only positives for Sri Lanka on the second day of the tour match as fifties from Bharat Popli and Ben Smith propelled New Zealand Board President’s XI to a 95-run lead at the end of play at Queenstown Events Centre.
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On a rain interrupted day, Wagner took two wickets as the tourists were reduced to 97 for five. They quickly resumed losing batsmen, as both Milinda Siriwardana and Kusal Perera were dismissed for one each.
His attempted hook off Ryan McCone going straight to the fielder who had been stationed there for the stroke.
The breakthrough for the hosts finally came when Blair Tickner had Karunaratne caught by Glenn Phillips for a determined 93.
The President’s XI reached 399 for eight in their first innings in reply to Sri Lanka’s 193, helped by Shawn Hicks’ unbeaten 79 and Tim Johnston’s 72.
Sri Lankan seamer Dushmantha Chameera was the pick of their bowlers, taking 4-57 as the lively pair added 114 to the President’s XI’s overnight score.
Chameera had three wickets while Dilruwan Perera (2-6) accounted for two.
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Dimuth Karunaratne top scored with 93 for Sri Lanka, while Canterbury’s Tim Johnston took four wickets and Otago’s Neil Wagner three.
