New Zealand Board President's XI v Sri Lankans

At Queenstown, December 3-5 (not first-class). Drawn. Sri Lankans 193 (72.5 overs) (F. D. M. Karunaratne 93; N. Wagner 3-31, T. G. Johnston 4-43) and 226-6 (71 overs) (M. D. U. S. Jayasundera 63, K. D. K. Vithanage 61, A. D. Mathews 54*); ‡New Zealand Cricket President's XI 399-8 dec (84.3 overs) (B. Popli 79, B. S. Smith 81, S. Hicks 79*, T. G. Johnston 62; P. V. D. Chameera 4-57). The President's XI chose from 13 players, and the Sri Lankans from 15. The tourists received an early indication of tough times ahead, struggling against a side containing only one Test player (seamer Neil Wagner). Dimuth Karunaratne batted for almost five hours in the first innings, when the next-best was Rangana Herath's 34 from No. 9. The President's XI openers, Delhi-born Bharat Popli and Ben Smith, put on 179, and the lead was swelled by 20-year-old Shawn Hicks and Tim Johnston. Dammika Prasad bowled only four overs before limping out of the tour with a back injury. The Sri Lankans batted better in their second innings, and avoided defeat.