WOMEN’S TEST MATCH

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25449, 22 March 1948, Page 5

WOMEN’S TEST MATCH

AUSTRALIA’S GOO© SCORE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 21. The Australian women cricketers reached a high standard at the Basin Reserve yesterday, when they scored 316 runs for four wickets on the first day of a three-day test against a New Zealand women’s team.

They set about their task in a methodical fashion, solid defensive batting taking the edge off the bowling in the morning, and the later batsmen taking toff of the tired boygers. The weather was fine, but a . blustering north-west wind made .the task of the bowlers a difficult one. There was an attendance of several thousands.

After the dismissal of Schmidt at 13, M. Dive, the Australian captain, joined Hudson, and the pair was still together when the luncheon adjournment was taken with the score at 94 for one wicket. Dive being 51 and Hudson 26.

After the interval the score was taken to 112 when Dive’s valuable innings closed for 59. Paisley and Hudson carried the score to 135, but Hudson’s invaluable innings of 193 minutes came to an end when she mistimed one from Blackler and was caught and bowled. B. Wilson and Paisley then delighted the crowd. Using their feet well to get out and punch good length balls, they scored off almost every delivery. Paisley specialised in cutting, both square and late, while Wilson proved an adept at on-side play, some of her hits to leg being brilliant Wilson was particularly fast between the wickets and was usually half the length of the pitch ahead of her partner. They added 136 in 116 minutes before Wilson was brilliantly taken low down in tne slips by Francis off Fulford.

The light was failing when L. Larter. joined Paisley and the score was taken to 316, when, after two conferences, the umpires drew stumps at 5-25 p.m. Paisley, Who was at the wickets for 186 minutes, was left Unbeaten with 95.

The New Zealand bowlers and fieldsmen stuck grimly to their heavy task. Francis, J. Lamason, Blackler, and Wickham all kept a good length, but would have done better had they attacked the wickets more, instead of indulging in negative off-theory. The lack of a good opening , bowler was felt. Scores;— t

MATCH WITH FIJIANS ABANDONED HEAVY RAIN AT NELSON (P.A.) NELSON,. March 21. Heavy rain on Saturday afternoon caused the abandonment of the Fiji-Nelson cricket match after three hours and threequarters play on the second day. Fiji declared its first innings with nine wickets down for 302, securing a lead of 155. H. J. Aptcd batted brilliantly for 93.

Nelson in its second innings had lost three wickets for 88 at stumps. Scores:—

FIJI First Innings Apted, lbW, b Hall .. .. 93 G. Cakobau, run out .. ..13 Bula, run out ..13 E. Cakobau, b Leggat .. ..26 Snow, c A. Newman, b Christmas .. 15 Turuva, c Hall, b J. Newman .. 38 Fenn, c A. Newman, b J. Newman .. 18 Wendt, bJ. Newman .. .. 0 Isoa, not out .. ~ .. 27 Petero, c Botting, b Hall .. ..30 Extras .. .. ..34 Total for nine wickets, dec. .. 302 Bowling: Hall two for 58, J. Newman three for 74, Leggat one for 27, Christmas one for 88. NELSON First innings .. ~147 Second Innings Hunter, c Fenn, b Isoa .. .. 0 Vaughan, c Fenn, b Isoa .. .. o Botting, not out .. .. ..40 A. Newman, b Fenn .. .. 29 Ryder, not out .. ..10 Extras .. .. § Total for three wickets .. 88

AUSTRALIA First Innings A. Hudson, c and b Blackler Schmidt, b Francis M. Dive, lbw, b Francis U. Paisley, not out B. Wilson, c Francis, b Fulford L Larter, not out .. 46 ». 13 .. 59 .. 95 .. 90 ’’ 6 Total for four wickets .. 316 Fall of wickets: one for 16, two for 112, three for 135, four for 298. Bowling „ O. M. R. W. Francis .. 29 8 72 2 J. Lamason .. 29 8 72 0 Blackler .. 15 6 32 1 Thompson .. 6 1 1 18 0 I, Lamason .. 15 0 58 0 Fulford 1 .. 12 1 40 1 Wickham .. 8 2 18 0