The day was 'set up for Neil' – Shane Jurgensen

Typical of a New Zealand surface, after a rather frenzied start to proceedings with 22 wickets falling on the first two days, the pitch at Christchurch's Hagley Oval settled down to become a batting paradise. It was in these conditions that Wagner made an impact through sheer unrelenting perseverence.

The left-arm seamer stormed in for 28 overs and, like he often does, kept bowling with undiminished energy to give the Sri Lanka batsmen something to think about. His efforts were rewarded with three crucial scalps out of the four to fall on the fourth day, reducing the visitors to 231/6, still a massive 429 away from the target.

Wagner will enjoy the returns more so because he was not only wicketless but also very expensive on the fourth day of the previous Test when Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis batted all day to help save the game.

Bowling coach Jurgensen felt the day was perfectly set up for Wagner to shine through. "I was commenting in our viewing area, this day is set up for Neil.

"He's showed what he could do and once he had a little bit more with this wicket, with a little bit more bounce on offer [it suited him]. I thought he bowled really good pace and really questioned the Sri Lankan batsman."

"He's just always hungry for wickets and he's got a very good record. He's always wanting to take wickets," Jurgensen said.

While Boult and Southee are experts at making inroads with the moving ball, Wagner has mastered the art of forcing things when there's not much happening in the air or off the surface. In a lot of ways, he adds the finishing touches to a well-rounded pace attack.

He wasn't able to share in the spoils when New Zealand's bowlers knocked out Sri Lanka for just 104 in their first dig with Boult even claiming six wickets in 14 deliveries. Having gone wicketless in his five overs in that innings, Wagner was that much more motivated to make a mark this time around.

"At times because (senior quicks Tim Southee and Trent Boult) have bowled really well, he hasn't had an opportunity to take the ball, so he was really licking his lips to have a good crack and he certainly had that - 28 overs," Jurgensen pointed out.

"[The bowlers] get on with each other - they're really good mates. You've got the two left-handers in Neil and Trent Boult, and then you've got Tim Southee and Colin de Grandhomme, when there's a bit more on offer in terms of seam and swing. You've got those four guys - two lefties and two righties. Neil's ability to bowl those bouncers, it just adds another string in the bow for the group."