Sri Lanka opened its tour of New Zealand yesterday with a minor calamity, slumping to 97 for five.
The New Zealand Cricket's President XI seized the upper hand through Otago left-armer Neil Wagner and Canterbury spinner Tim Johnson.
The pair picked up all five wickets to fall on a rain-affected day at the Queenstown Events Centre.
Wagner secured the initial breakthrough, removing opener Kusal Mendis for 13 in the 11th over and claimed the valued wicket of captain Angelo Mathews shortly before stumps on day one of the three-day match.
But it was Johnston who broke the 46-run partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne and Udara Jayasundera when he bowled the latter.
He then accounted for both Kithuruwan Vithanage and Dinesh Chandimal with consecutive balls.
He has three for nine from six overs and Wagner has two for 23.
Karunaratne has held up his end and is undefeated on 49.
Milinda Siriwardana is at the wicket with him on one.
