WOMEN’S CRICKET N.Z. Holds Advantage In Test At Auckland

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 11

WOMEN’S CRICKET N.Z. Holds Advantage In Test At Auckland

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, December 27. J. Wilkinson, of Lancashire, and C. Robinson, of Surrey, saved England from a disastrous day* in the first day of play of the second women’s cricket test with New Zealand at Eden Park today. Of a score of 166 for eight wickets at stumps, Wilkinson scored 90 and Robinson, one of the openers, 40. * Wilkinson batted for 168* minutes and gave not the semblance of a chance until she went down the wicket to P. Blackler, a legspinner, and was bowled. Robinson was given out leg before wicket while playing forward. The ball kept low and she was right in front. Drizzling rain delayed play for 49 minutes and together with the tea interval caused a delay of nearly two f hours in mid-after-noon. At this stage, England held the initiative, but a dramatic break-through by a 19-year-old off-spinner, M. Speight, supplemented by some well-flighted legbreaks by Blackler, turned the advantage to New Zealand.

Speight had M. Duggan, England’s captain, in two 'minds to a ball of perfect length and within a short time also bowled B. Birch and H. Sanders. Wilkinson his - eight boundaries. Her batting was exceptionally correct and was marked by deft shots to leg and well-timed back cuts. She and Robinson earned many singles with brisk running between the wickets. Scores: — ENGLAND First Innings C. Jtobinson, lbw, b Coulston .. 40 S. Driscoll, b Coulston .. S J. Wilkinson. b Blackler .. 90 M. Duggan, D Speight .. 10 B. Birch, b Speight *5 H. Sanders, b Speight .. 0 R. Marshall, c Paton, b Blackler 5 H. Sharpe, not out 6 E. Barker, c Currie, b Blackler 2 Extras .. .. ..6 Total for eight wickets 166

Bowling O. M. R. W. Coulston .. 17 8 29 Z Currie •• 4 34 0 Paton .. n n Sutherland • a 17 0 Speight .. 16 ■ ** Blackler .. ’1.4 i 27 3