England v New Zealand

Again, they were far superior, particularly in batting.

Dexter sent New Zealand in to bat on a pitch far from difficult, and Trueman, recovered from his leg strain, began their troubles with two wickets in his sixth over. Six wickets fell for 74, but the last four added 120.

The best stand came from Blair and Cameron, who put on 44 for the last wicket. Blair hit cleanly at times, his 64 coming in an hour and fifty minutes.

He followed by bowling Sheppard second ball, but England were 74 for one by the close. They struggled for a time, and despite another solid effort by Barrington were only three ahead when the sixth wicket fell.

Cowdrey, who damaged a finger on the first day, went in number eight, and although handicapped and having to change his grip he dominated the batting. Titmus helped add 61, and a prolific stand developed between Cowdrey and Smith which reached 145 by the close when England were 410 for eight.

Dexter allowed them to continue next morning, and they carried the unbroken partnership to 163, a new record for the ninth wicket in Test cricket, beating the 154 by S.E. Gregory and J.McC. Blackham for Australia against England at Sydney in 1894-95. Cowdrey batted four hours 128, and Smith, who hit eleven 4's in 69, two hours, thirty-five minutes.

Needing 234 to avoid an innings defeat, New Zealand again began badly and only a stand of 81 by Playle and Sinclair halted the collapse on a pitch taking spin. The match ended forty minutes before the close of the third day.

Trueman and Smith replaced Coldwell and Murray for England, and on the New Zealand side Blair, Morrison and Shrimpton came in, the last two making their Test debuts. They took over from Motz (injured), Alabaster and Sparling.